THE 

OMINANT 




ANNIE NATHAN MEYER 





(toss PS 3 5 2 S" 
Book X: 9 1) 4 
CopightW ^ 

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 



THE DOMINANT SEX 



Press of The Lancaster Printing Co., Lancaster, Pa. 



THE DOMINANT SEX 



A PLAY IN THREE ACTS 



BY 
ANNIE NATHAN MEYER 




NEW YORK 
BRANDU'S 

1911 



a r 






^ 



Copyright, 1911, by 
ANNIE NATHAN MEYER 



CI.D 23761 



v° 



V 






THE DOMINANT SEX 

It* 

*x 

If 

ACT I. THE MASONS' HOUSE. 

A Bed Room. 



ACT II JOHN MASON'S OFFICE. 

An Hour Eater. 



ACT III. THE MASONS' HOUSE. 
The Library. 
A Fortnight Later. 

The Action Takes Place Today In New York. 



All rights reserved under the 
International copyright act. 
Performances forbidden and 
all rights of representation, 
also translations * in foreign 
languages. 



THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY 

In the order of their appearance 

MRS. JOHN MASON, Prominent society woman, 
distinguished for her philanthropy and 
public spirit, running for the Presidency 
of the Federation of Clubs. 

MRS. DEMING, Secretary to Mrs. Mason. 

JOHN MASON, Important Financier. 

MRS. OLIVER T. H. NORTON, Beautiful, frivo- 
lous society woman. 

A MAID. 

MADEMOISELLE. 

MRS. SAMPSON-BLACK, Professional platform 
speaker. 

OFFICE BOY. 

ROSE MALONE, Telephone Girl. 

JAMES EWING, Secretary to John Mason. 

MRS. ALEXANDER MORTIMER. 

PERKINS. 

MARY. 

MISS LILLIAN RAY, Reporter from the Evening 
Whirl. 



ACT I 

Curtain rises on a luxuriously appointed bed room 
— two single beds— one bed unoccupied — in 
the other MRS. JOHN MASON propped up 
with pillows eating her breakfast from an 
elaborately set tray. As she eats, she glances 
at a newspaper. Several other papers lying 
around. A knock at door. 

Mrs. Mason. Come. 

(Enter her secretary, MRS. DEMING, 
holding a pile of letters, also some open 
sheets of writing.) 

(Seeing Mrs. Deming enter, Mrs. Mason 
turns to her rather petulantly.) 

You're late this morning. 

Mrs. Deming. Oh, I think you are mistaken — you 
forget you ordered breakfast earlier than usual. 

Mrs. Mason. That's so! What time is it? 

Mrs. Deming. Quarter before nine. 

Mrs. Mason. I suppose Mr. Mason is through his 
breakfast? 

Mrs. Deming. Oh, yes, and Elizabeth is waiting 
for her father to take her to school. 

11 



12 THE DOMINANT SEX 

Mrs. Mason. (Lackadaisically.) How people can 
get up for breakfast! 

Mrs. Deming. (Briskly.) Oh, it gets the whole 
day going right to be up and dressed early. 

Mrs. Mason. Do you think so? On the contrary, 
I think it's so restful to take breakfast in bed. You 
feel so content while everyone else is hurry-skurry- 
ing. I can plan a meeting or think out a speech so 
much better in bed. I'm sure I'd have some horrid 
kind of indigestion if I attempted to eat my break- 
fast when I'm dressed. 

Mrs. Deming. Well, you certainly make up for it, 
the way you fly around the rest of the day. I see 
you have the papers. 

Mrs. Mason. (Smiling and holding up one.) Did 
you ever? 

(Mrs. Deming smiles and nods.) 

(Holding up another.) 

And this! Isn't it a fright! 

Mrs. Deming. The penalty of greatness. 

Mrs. Mason. But there's no use refusing. 

Mrs. Deming. Dear me, no! They'd take any left- 
over and label it "Mrs. John Mason, President of the 
Magdalen Home, Treasurer of the Equality League 
— chief speaker at the dinner of the Municipal 



THE DOMINANT SEX 13 

Housekeepers, and now the leading candidate for 
the Presidency of the Federation of Women's 
Clubs." 

Mrs. Mason. Well, I have to forgive them, for 
they give me enough space — look! Two whole 
columns, and they squeezed Mrs. Parker-Gordon 
into a bare paragraph. 

Mrs. Deming. They won't think of her for Pres- 
ident of the Federation after this triumph of yours. 

Mrs. Mason. (Holding out her hands for letters.) 
Are they all ready for my signature? 

Mrs. Deming. (Embarrassed.) Not quite all. 

Mrs. Mason. (Querulously.) I expected them 
all to be ready. 

Mrs. Deming. (Quickly.) I'll work over time to- 
night and get through. I — sat with Bobby yester- 
day and told him stories. 

Mrs. Mason. You are incorrigible. Bobby has 
his nurse. 

Mrs. Deming. Says he's tired of Jane — knows all 
her stories backward, and you don't know what it 
means to me, to have a golden haired little fellow 
on my knee. (Voice breaks.) 

Mrs. Mason. (Hastily.) Yes, yes, I know. And 
these? (As she takes other letters.) 



14 THE DOMINANT SEX 

Mrs. Deming. (Smiling.) All ringing various 
changes on the same theme. 

(Mrs. Mason look up with raised eye- 
brows.) 

Your speech, of course. 

Mrs. Mason. Oh! 

(Looks over several letters hurriedly, 
passes them to Mrs. Deming with re- 
* marks.) 

Decline this — 

(Another.) 
Just say in the third person I've done all I can. 

(Another.) 

Send twenty-five dollars. 
(Another.) 

Take a box — 

(Another. Looks up from reading.) 

What have I on hand the nineteenth? 

Mrs. Deming. (Consulting engagement pad om 
stand next to bed.) 

You address the F. P. W. at Newark. 

Mrs. Mason. (Consults letter.) The twenty- 
fourth? 

Mrs. Deming. Boston — Equality League. 

Mrs. Mason. Twenty-third? 



THE DOMINANT SEX 15 

Mrs. Deming. Albany, hearing. 

Mrs. Mason. Just say we'll have to make it next 
month. 

Mrs. Deming. Very well — Miss Maunders 'phoned 
to know if you'd take tea with her at the Club — 
she's in the city for two days. 

Mrs. Mason. Rose here? Read me my list for 
today. 

Mrs. Deming. Eleven, fitting at Reynier's. 

Mrs. Mason. Yes? 

Mrs. Deming. Eleven forty-five — at Mrs. Van 
Ness— The Spiritual Uplift of the Bhagavad Gita 
by Mona Singh. One thirty, Annual luncheon — 
Woman's Republican Club — reply to toast "The 
Needed Touch of Women." Three thirty— At the 
Club — Readings from Maeterlinck by Madame de 
Paumier. Five to Seven — At Homes — 

Mrs. Mason. Never mind! Just send cards — 

Mrs. Deming. Guests for dinner. Opera "Thais." 

Mrs. Mason. Um — 'phone I can take tea with her 
nicely at the Club after the Maeterlinck Reading — 
or tell her I'll get a ticket for her — I won't have 
much time for tea, and we can chat some if we sit 
»ext to each other. 

(Enter JOHN MASON.) 

Mason. Good morning. 



16 THE DOMINANT SEX 

Mrs. Mason. (Petulantly.) You'll have to come 
back, Mrs. Deming. 

Mason. (Amused at her tone.) I won't be long. 

(Exit Mrs. Deming.) 

(Mason goes to take one chair after 
another, finds them occupied with Mrs. 
Mason's clothes, etc.) 

(To Mrs. Mason.) 

I'm worried over Bobby — didn't eat his break- 
fast right. 

Mrs. Mason. (Glancing over a letter.) H'm! 

Mason. Looks a little peaked — as if he doesn't 
get enough air. 

Mrs. Mason. Why, he takes a drive every morn- 
ing in the brougham. 

Mason. Why don't you turn him loose in the 
Park? 

Mrs. Mason. Such a rough gang, John — really. 
And he comes back so dirty! 

Mason. Couldn't you open Salt Meadows for 
Easter, and take the children down! 

Mrs. Mason. Good Heavens, John! Why I'm up 
to my ears — (Catches his gloomy look.) But there's 
no reason why the children shouldn't go. I'll send 



THE DOMINANT SEX 17 

down a couple of maids, and the care-taker's wife 
cooks nicely. 

Mr. Mason. Don't you think you could manage to 
go with them? 

Mrs. Mason. (Carelessly.) Oh, they won't miss 
me — Jane will be with them, and Mademoiselle. 
What more do they want? 

Mason. Maybe a mother. 

Mrs. Mason. (Lightly.) Oh, I have a due sense 
of my unimportance. 

Mason. (Sighing.) Well, Elizabeth's waiting 
for me. It's the only time I see the child. She's 
at such an interesting age — quite a little woman. 
I envy you the opportunity you have to be with her. 
You've been so busy with this Federation business 
lately, you'll be able to give the children more time 
when the election's over, won't you? 

Mrs. Mason. (Lightly.) Oh, yes, of course. 
Though I know, after I've been an hour with 
Elizabeth, how it must feel to be on the witness 
stand. She asks so many questions I generally lie 
down to recover, and Bobby's almost as bad. 

Mason. Such an alert, enquiring mind! Well, 
goodbye, dear. I wish you could get down to Long 
Island with them. 

Mrs. Mason. Impossible! — Yes, — wait a minute! 
I believe I can, after all! 



m THE DOMINANT SEX 

Mason. (Pleased.) Oh, I'm so glad, I hate to 
feel the children are always with servants. 

Mrs. Mason. (With raised eyebrows.) Made- 
moiselle 1 

Mason. Well, even a sublimated servant! 

Mrs. Mason. (Musing.) I'll have the girls from 
the Magdalen Home out there for lunch — and a 
lawn party after, — a little early in the season, but 
with the closed piazzas — we — 

Mason. (Blankly.) Oh, I thought- 
Mrs. Mason. (Absently.) Let me see — the 
southern porch — 

Mason. (Kisses her.) Goodbye, I see you have 
the papers, but you ought to sue them for libel. 
You're much better looking. 

Mrs. Mason. The Whirl has an editorial comment. 

■ 

Mason. How you ever learned to get off a 
regular Fourth of July stump speech! 

Mrs. Mason. Did you like it? 

Mason. Must I agree with it? 

Mrs. Mason. (Laughing.) Not as long as you 
don't disagree in public. 

Mason. (Smiling.) No, that would never do in 
the world! 

Mrs. Mason. Imagine the scandal. Why I can 
just see the headline: "The Masons Quarrel." — 



THE DOMINANT SEX 19 

Mason. "The charming leader of the Woman's 
Movement opposed by her husband" — 

Mrs. Mason. "The Great Wall Street Magnate." 

Mason. We'll make a compact — I'll never con- 
tradict you on the Woman Question, if you leave 
Finances to me — but, by the way, I wish you hadn't 
spoken of that nasty Sybil Fane affair. 

Mrs. Mason. Why I received a lot of applause 
for that. 

Mason. Well, keep your hands off that. Busy 
yourself with all your Federations and your Public 
Movements, but a woman who kills a man is no 
concern of yours. 

Mrs. Mason. Every woman is my concern. 
Especially when she is in trouble. 

Mason. Good Heavens! We can't convict a 
woman criminal without having the women's clubs 
buzzing about our ears! It's ridiculous! 

Mrs. Mason. It's splendid! The new solidarity 
of the sex. 

Mason. Solidarity be hanged! Rotten self-con- 
ceit you mean! (Warming up a bit.) A woman 
like that who shoots and kills a man — to take her 
part! Of course, it's all right to go ahead celebrat- 
ing the achievements of all the women to whom we 
owe so much — the women Mayors and Stateswomen, 
the women balloonists and inventors, the women 



20 THE DOMINANT SEX 

lawyers and financiers, but for Heaven's sake let us 
draw the line at women murderers! 

Mrs. Mason. There you go! Would you call a 
man a murderer when he was defending his honor? 

Mason. I don't understand. 

Mrs. Mason. Suppose it was a man shooting his 
wife's lover, he'd be a hero. You'd let him go 
scot-free. 

Mason. Oh, no! Only the yellow journals would. 

Mrs. Mason. You know perfectly well he'd be 
hailed as the noble protector of his hearth. 

Mason. But — 

Mrs. Mason. Sybil Fane only shot down her 
betrayer. 

Mason. You believe that? 

Mrs. Mason. Why not? What chance has a 
woman anyway? Even if she is fallen, it isn't fair — 
she's hounded and degraded, while a man- — 

Mason. (Interrupting.) Oh, that sort of talk is 
ridiculous — a man doesn't — there may be some 
injustice — but — 

Mrs. Mason. (Heated.) There can be nothing 
but injustice so long as wives and mothers are 
classified with criminals and idiots. 

Mason. But — 



THE DOMINANT SEX 21 

Mrs. Mason. (Going on in oratorical style.) 
What chance — (Here she nearly upsets the coffee 
pot — grabs it in time.) — has a woman to prove her 
innocence? Accused, tried and sentenced by men — 

Mason. (Amused.) Well, I wouldn't give much 
for her chance if she's tried by women. Now she 
may get out of a tight place if she's devilish hand- 
some, and a dozen susceptible — 

Mrs. Mason. Give women the ballot and there 
will be no more weak pandering to men — there will 
be no fallen women — 

Mason. (Hastily beating a retreat.) Goodbye! 
(As he opens the door MRS. NORTON 
enters — he greets her and rushes off.) 

Mrs. Norton. (A beautiful woman, dressed in 
the height of fashion.) How are you Cora? (Looks 
back.) Isn't he stunning — that husband of yours! 
Again for the nineteenth time I tell you I'm madly 
in love with him. 

(Bends over and kisses her.) 

Mrs. Mason. Stop your nonsense, Gilberte! 
Ring that bell there, will you? 

Mrs. Norton. (Rings a bell.) I knew you 
wouldn't raise an eyebrow — you're too sure of him. 
It's a shame! Ought to have Ollie for six months — 
holding the reins taut — you'd appreciate the cinch 
you've got. What a pair of shoulders! The way he 



22 THE DOMINANT SEX 

carries his clothes! — Cora, I bet you a woman 

can't look at that mouth without longing to kiss it. 

Mrs. Mason. Will you stop? 

(Enter maid who takes breakfast tray 
away.) 

Maid. (Carrying off tray.) At what time, Ma'am, 
do you wish the machine? 

Mrs. Mason. Ten o'clock. 

(Exit Maid.) 

Mrs. Norton. (Arranging hang of skirt and veil 
before mirror.) Why should I stop? If I don't 
talk men, you'll talk women — mine's much more 
amusing. 

(Turns from mirror — scrutinizes Mrs. 
Mason — lifts up her chin carefully.) 

No, not a wrinkle — not a gray hair — can't under- 
stand it. 

Mrs Mason. What are you doing? 

Mrs. Norton. Waist still measures twenty-two? 

Mrs. Mason. For Heaven's sake, Gilberte! 

Mrs. Norton. (Reproachfully.) How you can 

prefer the society of freaks and frumps! 

Mrs. Mason. Didn't you enjoy last night? 

Mrs, Norton. Enjoy it! You know I went only 
to hear you — you dear! You really were a marvel — a 



THE DOMINANT SEX 23 

dream! There you stood, the most provokingly 
beautiful woman, in a faultlessly fitting Paquin gown, 
spouting like any rough and tumble orator from 
Tennessee — if I'd been a man I'd have been tempted 
to stop some of those flowing sentences with a kiss 

Mrs. Mason. You are — 

Mrs. Norton. — A self-sacrificing angel — sat be- 
tween a highbrow who snorted up his soup, and a 
solemn woman who was fletcherizing her filet when 
I'd finished my ice cream. But, tell me — what do 
you really do it for? 

Mrs. Mason. What? 

Mrs. Norton. Oh, speechifying — edifying — 

Mrs Mason. You see nothing in waking up a 

sex? 

Mrs. Norton. (Maliciously.) Oh, yes! 

Mrs. Mason. Well, then? 

Mrs. Norton. But not my sex. 

Mrs. Mason. You're incorrigible. You see no 
thrill in bringing others to their feet? 

Mrs. Norton. Oh, yes! 

Mrs. Mason. In upliftng one half of the Human 
Race — 

Mrs. Norton. Uplifting? Off their knees? 



24 THE DOMINANT SEX 

Mrs. Mason. Oh, what's the use? It's the in- 
difference and inertia of women like you — that's the 
chief obstacle to our onward march. 

(While Mrs. Norton speaks, Mrs. Mason 
rises, slips on an elaborate peignoir, 
rings for the Maid, who enters and 
brushes and fixes her hair before dress- 
ing table.) 

Mrs. Norton. Yes, I admit it — what's that you 
call us? Oh, "man-dominated women!" — that's it! 
But isn't that about what the Lord had in mind when 
He performed that little operation on Adam's rib? 
Yes, one of your speakers last night got up and 
poked fun at the "Pernicious habit of man-propi- 
tiation." (Clapping hands.) Delicious! Yes, I'm 
man-dominated — but you're woman-dominated. You 
get your thrills from the hand claps of women, I 
get mine from the hand clasp of a man. You talk 
of thrills! Cora, did you ever have a man kiss you 
in the middle of the back — there! (Touches Mrs. 
Mason between her shoulders.) Talk about thrills! 

Mrs. Mason. (In disgust.) Gilberte! Of course, 
you won't be serious! 

Mrs. Norton. Yes, I can be, too — I can quote 
from your own speech, "Women are the guardians 
at the fountain sources and household sources of 

thought." "Woman is more conscientious, more 

pure, more devoted to the higher life, she will see 



THE DOMINANT SEX 25 

that only good men hold offices." — say, Cora, sup- 
pose the bad man's her son? 

Mrs. Mason. Gilberte! 

Mrs. Norton. Well, really, you know, they do 
have mothers! 

Mrs. Mason. She won't vote for gamblers and 
drunkards — 

Mrs. Norton. Unless they're her husbands? Eh! 

Mrs. Mason. (Impatiently.) You know women 
are more law-abiding and they will never bribe. 

(A knock at door. Enter FRENCH 
NURSERY GOVERNESS.) 

Mademoiselle. (In broken English.) I beg 

Madame's pardon — but Bobby insists that you pro- 
mised to take him to the circus tomorrow afternoon. 

(Mrs. Norton looks on, much amused 
during conversation.) 

Mrs. Mason. Pshaw! So I did! Tell him you'll 
take him. 

Mademoiselle. I heard Madame say she had the 
meeting of the Playground Association. 

Mrs. Mason. (To Mrs. Norton.) There's a splen- 
did work you ought to take up. Think of the poor 
little boys who never have a chance to romp and 
pla3' in the air. 



26 THE DOMINANT SEX 

Mrs. Norton. (Meaningly.) You ought to take 
Bobby there. 

Mrs. Mason. Nonsense! It's for the poor chil- 
dren who have no place to go. 

(Mrs. Norton smiles.) 

Mademoiselle. So I told him I would take him. 
But he say you promised. 

Mrs. Mason. I forgot to look at my book first — 
he was teasing so. 

Mademoiselle. He's kicking and screaming now — 
bit me right there. See! (Holds up a ringer.) 
Shall I bring him to you? 

Mrs. Mason. (Hastily.) Oh, no! Tell him to be 
a good little boy and he can ask his little cousin 
Marie. 

Mademoiselle, Tres bien, Madame! 

(Exits.) 

Mrs. Norton. Well, goodbye, I really ran in for 
a moment Just to hand you this. 

(Gives her a bundle she had brought in 

with her. Maid busies herself getting 

out costume, hat, etc. from closets and 

arranging them in room for Mrs. 

Mason to wear.) 

(Her hair is dressed. She rises from 
chair. Opening bundle she reveals 
yards and yards of superb lace.) 



THE DOMINANT SEX 27 

Mrs. Mason. Oh, how lovely! It was awfully- 
good of you to take the trouble. 

Mrs. Norton. (Carelessly.) No trouble — only 
with it wound about my stockings I did have an 
awkward gait. I was so afraid Ollie would ask me 
what was the matter when I waddled down the 
gangplank. (Laughs.) 

Mrs. Mason. (Laughing with her.) Clever! And 
they're so particular now. I just love to get the 
best of those Custom House Officers. 

Mrs. Norton. So do I, but Ollie would never 
have forgiven me. 

Mrs. Mason. (Complacently.) Men are so queer 
about those things. 

Mademoiselle. (Entering.) Pardon! — but Bobby, 
he say he won't go with Marie. She pinch him — 
he want you — he say you promise — 

Mrs. Mason. Children are so unreasonable! Tell 
him if he's a good boy, I'll take him down in the 
morning and buy him a pony. 

(As Mademoiselle turns to go, Mrs. 
Mason continues, but it is evident she 
has not heard and closes door behind 
her.) 

Oh dear! Oh! Mademoiselle! I forgot I can't 
take him tomorrow. 



28 THE DOMINANT SEX 

Mrs. Norton. (Kissing her goodbye.) Well, 
goodbye! I'm so glad you think women never bribe! 

(Maid enters with card — Mrs. Norton 
glances at it.) 

Good Heavens! The Sampson-Black woman who 
goes around preaching the dignity of Labor and the 
Poltroonery of Plutocracy. Cora, how can you! 

Mrs. Mason. She's a mighty shrewd woman all 
the same! She's managing my campaign, you know 
for the Presidency of the Federation. 

(To maid.) Show her up — she won't mind. 

(Maid exits — Mrs. Norton follows her.) 

Mrs. Sampson-Black. (Entering and looking 

back.) Wasn't that Mrs. Norton? 

. 

(She is large and impressive; professional 
speaker's voice.) 

Mrs. Mason. Good morning. — Yes. 

(Mrs. Sampson-Black is immensely im- 
pressed. Sits down with a sigh of 
contentment — looks around luxurious 
room with delight. It is evident she 
smacks her lips over every sign of 
luxury; the luxurious fittings of the 
delicate dressing table, the bed hang- 
ings—everything delights her.) 



THE DOMINANT SEX 29 

Mrs. Sampson-Black. I thought it was Mrs. 
Oliver T. H. Norton — I've seen her picture in the 
paper often among the prominent divorcees. 

(With an awe struck gasp.) She married her co- 
respondent, didn't she? 

Mrs. Mason. (Coldly.) I think you came, Mrs. 

Black- 
Mrs. Sampson-Black. Yes, to congratulate you 

on your marvelous performance last night. 

Mrs. Mason. Did you see how Mrs. Parker-Gor- 
don wriggled every time I made a point? 

Mrs. Sampson-Black. Did I? Why, she got her 
straight front all to one side. But she's more deter- 
mined than ever to be the next President of the 
Federation — she — (Maid enters.) 

Maid. Mrs. Thurston at the 'phone, Ma'am — says 
would you please tell her the hour for dinner, 
Ma'am- 
Mrs. Mason. Why, eight, of course. 
Maid. But she says how the opera begins — 

Mrs. Mason. Oh, very well — we'll make it seven- 
thirty. Just 'phone Mr. Mason, too. 

(Exit Maid. Mrs. Sampson-Blask beams.) 

Mrs. Sampson-Black. Is that the Mrs. Thurston 
where the Duke is staying? 



30 THE DOMINANT SEX 

Mrs. Mason. (Carelessly.) Yes. We're taking 
them to the opera after dinner. 

Mrs. Sampson- Black. Do you believe the Duke is 
really attentive to Cicely Thurston? 

Mrs. Mason. (Drawing herself up.) Really, Mrs. 
Black — I must leave in a few moments — and — 

Mrs. Sampson-Black. Well — Mrs. Parker-Gor- 
don's so upset, she's going to make a counter move. 
What do you think she's done? 

Mrs. Mason. What? 

Mrs. Sampson-Black. Went straight over to 
where Mrs. Truesdale was sitting — the Mrs. Wilton 
Truesdale who gave up her children to her husband 
on payment of a million dollars — 

Mrs. Mason. (Impatiently.) Yes — well? 

Mrs. Sampson^Black. And got her to give a build- 
ing for the Working Girls' Union. 

Mrs. Mason. How nice! 

Mrs. Sampson-Black. "How nice!" Humph! 
Mrs. Parker-Gordon did it only to show her power. 
They think it owing to her Mrs. Truesdale came 
out for suffrage. The cat! Working girls are all 
the rage now — 

(Turning suddenly to Mrs. Mason.) We must do 
something, if you don't want Mrs. Parker-Gordon 
to be President. 



THE DOMINANT SEX 31 

Mrs. Mason. I gave the Playground to the 
children. 

Mrs. Sampson-Black. That was eight months ago 
— besides playgrounds aren't it just now — factory 
girls are. 

Mrs. Mason. (Smiles; reflects.) We might get 
up a fine blow-out for the opening of the Play- 
ground — or — let me see — Day Nursery? Nothing 
specially new — Soup Kitchen — antediluvian — 

Mrs. Sampson-Black. Model tenements? 

Mrs. Mason. Been done! There's a good deal 
of interest just now in pure milk- 
Mrs. Sampson-Black. Tuberculosis is most popu- 
lar. 

Mrs. Mason. Um — yes! Not very original 
though! I have it — the very thing! 

Mrs. Sampson-Black. (Excited.) What? 

Mrs. Mason. Did you notice how everyone was 
fired by my reference to Sybil Fane? — Last night? 

Mrs. Sampson-Black. Yes — the papers mentioned 
that especially. 

(Mrs. Mason looks about bed — doesn't 
lay her hand on the paper she wants — 
looks for another and finds it. Folds 
it and hands it to Mrs. Sampson-Black. 
Mrs. Mason reads it over her shoulder.) 



32 THE DOMINANT SEX 

(Mrs. Sampson-Black reading aloud hen 
and there from the paper, nodding hei 
head, delighted.) 

Excellent! "Man-made laws!" Oh, that — that 
was fine — "When the honor of a woman will be as 
important as the honor of a man" — Splendid! 
Splendid! 

Mrs. Mason. Did you like that about throwing off 
the shackles of man's pleasure? 

Mrs. Sampson-Black. So strong! So virile! But 
I do not exactly see — 

Mrs. Mason. (Smiling.) Don't you? (Mrs. 
Sampson-Black looks puzzled.) What do you say 
to a National Association to rescue Sybil Fane from 
the electric chair? 

Mrs. Sampson-Black. What! 

Mrs. Mason. (Dramatically addressing an imagi- 
nary audience.) Here is a poor woman at bay — on 
trial for her life for slaying the brute who has robbed 
her of her virginal innocence. Who tries her? Women 
who would sympathize with her? Women who 
would seek to punish the miscreant who wrought 
the devastation and ruin? Women ever ready to 
hold out a helping hand to a member of their own 
sex? No! No! The poor hunted thing is surround- 
ed by men — men like that brute who outraged her 



THE DOMINANT SEX 33 

womanhood — men who will smile at her agony, gloat 
over her shame — no, it must not, shall not be — 
I call on every woman — her sisters — to come for- 
ward with outstretched hand — with outstretched 
hand — (Slightly breathless.) 

Mrs. Sampson-Black. (Clapping her hands.) 

Wonderful! Splendid! 

Mrs. Mason. (Seats herself.) Think it will take, 
eh? 

Mrs. Sampson-Black. Like wild-fire! We'll make 
Mrs. Parker-Gordon First Vice-President. 

Mrs. Mason. (Takes up house telephone.) Send 
me Mrs. Deming, please. 

(To Mrs. Sampson-Black.) While I'm full of it 
we'll dash off a circular — 

Mrs. Sampson-Black. They'll never think of put- 
ting her in the Federation over your head. This 
will just be in full swing when the election comes 
off — you're sure to get it now. 

Mrs. Deming. (Entering.) You wish me? 

Mrs. Mason. Yes, sit right down and take this 
short hand — 

(Dictating.) When it has come to pass as it has 
that an innocent woman avenging her honor — 

Mrs. Sampson-Black. The helpless victim of man's 
lust— 

(Curtain falls on Mrs. Mason continuing the 
dictation.) 



ACT II 

Private office of John Mason, elegant, typi- 
cal of a man important in the world of 
Finance. Mason seated at his desk, 
looking over a large mail; shows signs 
of impatience and annoyance. Pushes 
button on desk. (Enter office boy.) 

Mason. Not here yet? 

Boy. No, sir. 

Mason. (Continues looking over letters.) H'm. 

(Exit Boy.) (Mason rings again. Enter Boy.) 

Tell her she needn't take off her things. Under- 
stand — come right in. 

Boy. Yes, sir. (Exit Boy.) 

Mason. (Shoves aside chair, pulls out watch, 
looks at it, takes up paper, glances over it.) 

Humph! "Municipal Housekeepers" — I say Mun- 
icipal Meddlers! This thing is going too far. 

(Desk telephone buzzes. Mason takes up receiver.) 

35 



36 THE DOMINANT SEX 

Hullo! Yes, yes, go ahead. Yes, I understand — to- 
day at four o'clock — the Secretary of the Treasury — 
confidential — of course. Yes — yes — goodbye. 

(Makes some notes on engagement pad. 
Takes up paper again; starts up, opens 
door and glances into outer office, closes 
door; grunts, takes up paper again — a 
telegram is brought in; Mason reads it 
with satisfaction, consults note book 
which he pulls from pocket.) 

Fine! By George! he's doing it! 

(Takes up paper and reads aloud.) "Wherever 
woman penetrates, whether factory, shop or office, 
there penetrates some ray of light, some touch of 
grace and refinement." 

(Enter ROSE MALONE, overdressed and 
vulgar; dyed hair arranged in tremend- 
ous pompadour, artificial, stiff curls be- 
hind; big, unsteady picture hat, preten- 
tious but of cheapest grade; coarse, pur- 
ple motoring veil arranged over hat; 
everything about her a poor imitation of 
fashionable women; everything as un- 
suited as possible to the needs of a wage 
earner. Looks underfed and unhealthy. 
She chews gum, regards Mason with a 
bold stare.) 

Rose. (Speaks with a raucous voice.) Want me? 



THE DOMINANT SEX 37 

Mason. (Eyeing her in disgust, emphatically.) 

Want you? No! 

(Regards column he has just been read- 
ing with cynical amusement.) 

Rose. (About to go.) Wrong number! 

Mason. (Coldly.) No, I sent for you — to dismiss 
you. 

Rose. What's the row? Ain't I givin' satisfaction? 

Mason. (Looking at watch.) You are twelve 
minutes late today, yesterday you were fifteen 
minutes late; the day before — 

Rose. I tripped up as I ran for a car — 

(Holding up bedraggled skirt.) — had to pin it up. 

Mason. And yesterday I suppose you dropped 
one of your blondine sausage rolls — 

Rose. Cut that out! (Goes to door.) 

Mason. One moment, Miss Malone. I wonder 
if you ever reflected that if a machine were as poorly 
equipped for its day's work as you are, it would be 
fit only for the junk shop. 

Rose. I don't see why you call me back to insult 
me. If I'm dismissed, let me go. 

Mason. Yes, I suppose you are insulted. And 
yet do you never think of yourself as a machine 
equipped to do certain work? Do you try to do 
your day's work with the least possible friction? 



38 THE DOMINANT SEX 

You clog, you hamper yourself in every conceivable 
way and yet you want to be considered an effective 
bit of mechanism in the serious world of business. 
Look here, at best it isn't an easy proposition. With 
your efficiency at its highest point, there will be 
days when the grind becomes too much for you, 
and you wish you never were born. Yet you put 
in more time wriggling into a waist that buttons 
hindside foremost than in eating your breakfast, you 
spend more money on an utterly preposterous hat 
than on a month's luncheons. 

(Rose gazes at him fascinated, at first too 
astonished to resent what he says. 
Gradually she is overcome and buries 
her head in her arms.) 

You literally fight your way along the windy 
canons of our streets, tripping, stumbling, with be- 
draggled skirts and soaked shoes, and unsteady hat, 
while the cold^ eats into your marrow because you 
change the cut of your coat so often you can't afford 
a warm one. In one sense you are as underdressed 
as in another sense you are overdressed. (With 
growing warmth.) Therefore, I tell you the average 
working girl for all the wonders one hears of her, is 
about the silliest proposition the world has struck 
yet. Even the woman who frankly lives to please has 
her place. At least she isn't engaged in a hand to 
hand, life and death struggle with nature. There's 
only one end possible. Nature is never defeated. She is 
infinitely patient. Sometimes you think you're on top. 
But she's only waiting; why every squirrel, every dog 
can tell you that — they know it's follow the rules of 
her game or go to the wall. Obedience or death, 
there's no choice. That's why I say there's nothing 



THE DOMINANT SEX 39 

on God's earth so defiantly preposterous as the 
wage-earning woman. 

Rose. (Whimpering.) I don't see why a poor 
girl — 

Mason. (Disgusted.) There you go! Bawling! 
Can one ever tell the plain truth to a woman! 

Rose. (Rising angrily.) Oh! a woman, a woman! 
I'm sick of having it thrown up to me that I'm a 
woman. I don't ask any favors. Just treat me fair 
and square. Just forget I'm a woman. I've got a 
right same's any man to earn my living. 

Mason. (Bitterly sarcastic.) Earning your own 
living, are you? I'd respect you if you were. 

Rose. What d'you mean? 

Mason. You're not earning your living. 

Rose. I am! I am! 

Mason. You're doing your vulgar little best to 
make some man earn it for you. 

(Rose is overwhelmed. Hides her face 
in her arms again.) 

"Forget that you're a woman!" Do you let us 
forget it for a single moment? Yes, you want us 
to forget it on pay day, but at no other time. I'd 
have respect for your "economically independent 
woman" who's filling the magazines just now, if 
you only would play fair. But you don't — you don't 
know the meaning of the word. Have you forgotten 



40 THE DOMINANT SEX 

your sex, eh? Not for a little bit — brought it into 
working hours — that's all you've done. Why! you're 
not honest, I tell you — it isn't fair to the girl who 
stays at home. You slam the door on her face as 
you step out on the street and you call back to her 
"Pooh! you can stay at home waiting for a man to 
pop. I don't need any man to lean on. I can fight 
my own battle." But you don't — you're fighting 
the same old eternal battle of the sexes, and what's 
more you're fighting that girl who's staid home and 
fights fair! She's frank, she's honest. She plays 
the game in play hours. You play it all the time — - 
you skulk into the men's world flying a flag of truce 
but there's no truce about it. There are some men, 
God help them, who can't get enough of it, but 
when I'm participating in a large underwriting, or 
dictating a letter to a bank President in Valparaiso, 
I'm not hankering after the flash of a yard of bare 
arms nor for the neatest ankle in the world. It's 
raw red wrists and a sack coat for mine! t 

(Rose goes to door, blubbering as she gets 
there. Mason calls her back in busi- 
ness tones.) 

Oh! one thing more, Miss Malone— kindly give as 
the reason of your departure just plain incompe- 
tence; don't say that I tried to kiss you. 

Rose. (Turning.) Brute! . 

(Exits.) (EWING enters door as Rose 
goes out. EWING is a Southerner, talks 



THE DOMINANT SEX 41 

with distinct accent; about 50 years old, 
carefully groomed and punctilious.) 

Ewing. What's the matter? 

Mason. From this moment on, John Mason & 
Co. is going to bear the market on women. We'll 
make telephone girls and typewriting ladies as 
scarce in Wall Street as a dollar in a church col- 
lection. 

Ewing. (Looking back sympathetically.) Why, 

the poor little thing's been crying. 

Mason. (Snorts.) "Poor little thing!" Ewing, 
you're as easy — 

Ewing. (Drawing himself up.) Is it not natural, 
sir, that a man should dislike to see a woman, — a 
poor, defenseless woman in tears? And it pains one 
more to think a man can have caused these tears! 

Mason. You are so delightfully last century! 

Ewing. A woman's eyes should be sacred wells 
of joy and happiness. 

Mason. Ewing, I suppose you'd want to take off 
your hat to a shrieking suffragette manacled to an 
iron fence. You are one of the few who can look 
on a woman in a three foot nuisance hat and a 
hobble skirt as something fine and holy. 

Ewing. To me, sir, a woman always bears her 
crown of womanhood. 



42 THE DOMINANT SEX 

Mason. Sometimes I think it's you fellows that 
are largely responsible for the nonsense of our 
women folks. 

Ewing. How do you mean? 

Mason. Oh, you have accustomed the women to 
adoration and there aren't quite enough like you to 
go 'round. There are a lot of unthroned queens 
shy of subjects. The scent of incense is in their 
nostrils and they can't get it out for all that there's 
no altar left and no candles. 

Ewing. (Stiffly.) A woman, a pure woman, is 
the noblest work of God. (Slight groan.) 

Mason. (Alarmed, rushes up to him.) What is it? 
You are pale. You are not well. Sit down. (Hands 
him a drink of water.) 

Ewing. (Drinks.) Thank you. It is past. A 
touch of that sciatica again. The doctor told me I 
should not stand. 

Mason. (Grimly.) And 1 bet you gave up your 
seat in the sub to one of these purifying "angel 
presences" and clung to a strap all the way down. 
I bet she never even thanked you. 

Ewing. (Again stiffly.) I could not let a woman 
stand — a delicate woman. 

Mason. (Losing patience.) Don't you see, Ewing. 
why I call you a left-over — an anachronism? All 
tkese lovely theories about kotowing to the womer, 



THE DOMINANT SEX 43 

taking off your hat, and giving up your seat, shield- 
ing them with your strong right arm and all that 
sort of thing, was all right so long as they staid in 
their place. Heavens! We men had no kick com- 
ing from us. We didn't mind slaving for them and 
ponying up everything we had. But I tell you, man, 
it can't go on. They mustn't expect to have their 
cake and eat it too. If they want to come out into 
the world and take our salaries they have got to 
take the bad with the good. If they keep on yell- 
ing for equality, some day they'll wake up good and 
hard and find that they've got it. By Jove! The 
time's pretty nigh come, I tell you, when it's up to 
us men to give them a dose that will sicken them 
of it. Why, there isn't a woman now for all her 
shouting has an idea of getting equality. What she 
wants is privilege — privilege with a capital P, and 
woe to the man who takes a dotlet from an i. 

Ewing. On the contrary, I am amazed at their 
pluck — their daring! It is like a handful of sheep 
coming of themselves and demanding equality of 
wolves. And the sacrifices they make without 
whimper! Look at your wife's secretary, Mrs. 
Deming. 

Mason. Oh, I have nothing against her. She's 
the right sort. 

Ewing. She is an angel. 

Mason. (Looking amused at him.) Yes. I don'' 
mind the real eighteen carat kind. But we men have 



44 THE DOMINANT SEX 

to put up with a heap of imitation articles all right. 
Now just look at this: 

(Takes up a newspaper.) Here's part of my wife's 
speech last night: 

(Reads.) "At the flutter of her garments the 
brutishness and roughness of man flies away with 
a hoarse croak, never to appear again." 

Ewing. Beautifully put! 

jMason. Hell! Do you think that Malone type 
of woman such a purifying influence? I tell you, 
Ewing, don't fool yourself; we men were better off 
before she came. I don't say, mind you, that a lot 
of men in an office are absorbed in growing a 
crop of wings — I grant you there was plenty of 
vulgarity, if you choose, but it was a sexless vul- 
garity, it wasn't the Patchouli, have-you-seen-the- 
show, Peek-a-boo waist variety. 

Ewing. Nonsense, the influence of woman has 
always been refining. 

Mason. His Satanic majesty never swears nor 
chews. It's a damnable kind of refinement woman 
brings. A woman in her place is an angel, out of 
her place she needs an "angel." But what's the 
use, we two can talk till doomsday and never agree 
over lovely woman. — See that cable from Brown 
and Brown? 

Ewing. Yep ! 



THE DOMINANT SEX 45 

Mason. It's going all right. Anything from 
Paris? 

Ewing. Within a month it will be listed on the 
Bourse. 

Mason. (Gleeful.) Haven't failed, have I? I 
tell you, it means a lot to me to succeed. It's a 
big thing. 

Ewing. Very big. Splendid! 

Mason. (Chuckling.) I tell you when it comes 
to finance, the women aren't in it! 

Ewing. Their delicate sense of honor would not 
permit them — 

Mason. (Bends over the ticker. Looks up amused.) 
Ever carry an account for a woman? 

(Crosses over to desk and points out a 
part of paper to Ewing.) 

Read that! 

Ewing. (Reads.) "Mrs. Mason's husband sat 
through the speech with an appreciative smile upon 
hio handsome countenance." 

Mason. Discerning reporter, that! 

Ewing. "Later on he said if he possessed one 
tithe of her eloquence, he'd own all the rest of the 
railroads he didn't own already." 



46 THE DOMINANT SEX 

Mason. Wasn't within a mile of the place. But 
you see, Ewing, they had to get that in to get the 
correct perspective on the picture — just the right 
touch of adulation. As if I, John Mason, have 
nothing else to do but go listen to a lot of woman's 
twaddle. Why, I'm too busy chasing the elusive 
dollar to go to women's meetings and hear the 
men jawed. Did you ever hear them, Ewing? No? 
Well, you'd think every woman hung from early 
morn to dewy eve over the wash tubs and every 
man just sat on a gold mounted throne and issued 
orders to God Almighty. As if all the time he 
wasn't with his nose to the grindstone trying to 
scrape enough together to pay his wife's milliner. 

Ewing. (Sighing.) If only I had them to pay! 

Mason. Yes, you are one of these darned idiots 
of American men that is just ready to lie down and 
let any woman walk over you. I'm afraid with us 
American husbands it's a case of spare the rod and 
spoil the wife. 

Ewing. (Laughing.) Well, you yourself are not 
exactly a paragon of sternness. You give your 
wife a pretty long rope. 

Mason. (Muttering.) Yes, and I guess she'll 
manage to hang herself with it. (Aloud.) But I tell 
you it's no laughing matter. The whole country's 
gone mad. I really think, old chap, we men shall have 
to take a little time off from business and square 



THE DOMINANT SEX 4? 

things before it is too late. What with hysterical 
legislation and W. C. T. U., and school children 
waving banners, and prayer meetings at the polls 
— and it isn't only America that's paying the piper — 
not by any means! It's England, it's Finland, it's 
Russia, it's all over. Even the Turk, the unspeak- 
able Turk's lost his grip. I sort of depended on 
the Turk, and his nice quiet kind of wife, but even 
he's gone back on us. — Did you let that Irrigation 
Company have that million? 

Ewing. Yes, and I've that report ready for the 
Executive Committee of the D. T. & W., today 
and — 

(Boy brings in a card. Mason glances 
at it in amazement.) 

Mason. Mrs. Alexander Mortimer! Well, well! 
Show her in. Excuse me, Ewing, just take this, it's 
from the Mayor — tell him I'll serve on that com- 
mittee. 

(Thrusting a letter into his hands.) You'll know 
what to say — I must see this lady a moment. 
(Exit Ewing.) 

(Mrs. Mortimer is shown in. She is dress- 
ed in deepest mourning; flings back her 
veil.) 

[(Simultaneously.) 
Mrs. Mortimer. John! 
Mason. Anne! 

Mason. (Takes her hand.) This is good, to see 
you. 



48 THE DOMINANT SEX 

Mrs. Mortimer. (Overcome.) After all these 
years ! 



Mason. (Leading her to a seat.) What is it, 
Anne? 

Mrs. Mortimer. Help me, John! Help me! 

Mason. Help you, of course, but what? How? 
You are in trouble, in mourning. Who? Aleck 
died ten years ago — not — 

(Mrs. Mortimer nods her head with an 
agonized expression.) 

not John, your boy? Why, how old is he? 

Mrs. Mortimer. (Sobbing quietly in her handker- 
chief.) Yes, John, my boy John — just twenty-two. 

Mason. (Pityingly.) Husband and son — both 
taken from you. 

Mrs. Mortimer. (Looking at him.) And you, 
John, you — most of me died then — it seems as if 
one can suffer just so much and no more. 

Mason. (Gently.) Yes, Anne, you suffered. We 
both suffered, but it was right. It was for the 
best — you've never doubted that? 

Mrs. Mortimer. (Wildly.) For the best? I sup- 
pose so- — twenty thousand clergymen are ding-dong- 
ing that into us! Suffer? Most people think only 
men suffer — like that. They think women love, 



THE DOMINANT SEX 49 

and yearn and waste away, but suffer as a man 
does? The sleepless nights — the wild moments — 
how did I ever live through it? 

Mason. There would have been no happiness for 
us, Anne. We both cared too much for Aleck to 
deceive him. But tell me about John — was he ill 
long? 

Mrs. Mortimer. Never ill a day. 

Mason. Not ill? An accident? 

Mrs. Mortimer. Do you mean to say you know 
nothing about it? 

Mason. Nothing. 

Mrs. Mortimer. But the papers are full of it. 

Mason. One of those horrible motor accidents? 

Mrs. Mortimer. You haven't read it, you say? 

Mason. No! I've been in Europe, just back, and 
I don't give much time to the papers. 

Mrs. Mortimer. You haven't read about the trial 
of Sybil Fane? 

Mason. (Jumping from his chair.) Anne! you 
don't mean — 

Mrs. Mortimer. (Sadly.) Yes, yes — it was my 
boy, shot down — dead! Murdered! 

Mason. Good God! But this woman — what she 
says — 



S© THE DOMINANT SEX 

Mrs. Mortimer. (Angrily.) You mean about 
defending her honor and all that? Bah! you don't 
believe that stuff, do you? Why, she's an adven- 
turess through and through, a common, reckless — 
now she's on trial for her life she suddenly takes 
stock in the chastity idea — sees a loop hole of 
escape. Why it was rage, just pure jealous rage — 
crazy about John — (Breaks out wildly.) Oh! my 
boy, my boy! They've murdered you, they've 
killed you — they've taken you away from me and 
now they want to make out you're a villain and a 
seducer. Oh, my God! 

Mason. Calm yourself, Anne, Anne. Tell me all 
about it. 

Mrs. Mortimer. When he came, I lived for one 
thing, to bring him up like you, with your ideals, 
your sense of personal respect and honor. (Deliber- 
ately.) my boy was a good boy, you understand? 

Mason. Yes. 

Mrs. Mortimer. He was handsome, very hand- 
some. Here! 

(Turns a locket on her breast and shows 
him picture.) 

Look! 

Mason. (Looks at it, moved.) What a beautiful 
face! (Musingly.) That's Aleck's forehead. 



THE DOMINANT SEX 51 

Mrs. Mortimer. Isn't it strange! During all those 
months I had one face before me, yours, every- 
where you, till I thought I'd grow mad, and yet he 
looked like Aleck. 

Mason. Don't! 

Mrs. Mortimer. Well, you see for yourself. You 
know how a face like that sets women crazy. You 
understand — there is always something comical to 
the world about a man resisting temptation. 

Mason. Yes, I know. 

Mrs. Mortimer. She was a beautiful woman, you 
can imagine how it maddened her — so accustomed 
to stir men, to have a mere boy resist her. It 
turned a momentary impulse into a fixed resolve. 
She followed him — they had terrible scenes. He 
consented to see her this time only because she 
swore it was for the last time. 

Mason. Terrible! But when you entered this 
room, you said "Help me, John." What did you 
mean? What can I do? 

Mrs. Mortimer. Help me turn all my property 
into ready money to defend my boy's name — to con- 
vict his murderess! 

Mason. Of course! Count on me. But you will 
have the District Attorney behind you — all the 
power of the law, and of this great city. There is 



52 THE DOMINANT SEX 

no question about it, if you can prove she was, as 
you say, a common adventuress we can convict her. 

Mrs. Mortimer. Yes, but my lawyer warned me 
it was difficult nowadays to convict a woman of 
anything — if the situation were reversed, it would be 
easy. He says New York particularly has gone off 
half cocked on the White Slave Traffic and the idea 
that every woman is an angel and every man a 
brute. You see every public speaker, every woman's 
club has been spreading this atmosphere of adula- 
tion, "woman the purifier and sanctifier of our 
homes" and "woman the uplifter of our ideals." It's 
about time some of us mothers of sons spoke out. 
Our boys are brutes, are they? Then who tears them 
from our arms and makes them brutes? Beasts are 
they? Then who has made them so? My God! 
My God! 

Mason. Anne," calm yourself. 

Mrs. Mortimer. Calm myself when they're try- 
ing to let my boy's murderer go scot free? Calm 
myself! Why it's your fault — it's the fault of all 
you men who know the truth. You let these women 
run on, cackling about their superior virtue, their 
wonderful morals! Why don't you tell them? 
Every handsome man knows it's a lie, a lie — why 
don't the good men tell their mothers, their sisters, 
their wives what they go through, with the bad 
women on every side, ready to wreck their lives? 
Tell them! Tell them! Who would believe our 
story— that you were the stronger of the two? 



THE DOMINANT SEX 53 

Mason. Anne ! 

Mrs. Mortimer. You know it, you know when a 
woman is really carried away by passion she for- 
gets everything — honor, self respect, virtue, — bah! 
for once why not tell the truth? I never questioned 
your love for me — how could I? Your glowing 
eyes, your pallor, your cold hands, your quivering 
dps. God! No! Yet your sense of honor, your loyalty 
-to a business partner and friend, was stronger 
than mine for a husband. You threw up everything 
risked your career, started out all over again, to save 
that honor — who would believe it? One of these 
women who rant about their high ideals? 

Mason. Yes, perhaps we men have kept silence 
too long. We must down this orgy of self esteem. 
Your lawyer is quite right. It is not easy to con- 
vict a woman of wrong-doing. (Hands her a paper.) 
Have you seen that? 

Mrs. Mortimer. (Reads.) (Nods.) "Here is an 
innocent woman shooting a man — or shall we call 
him a fiend in man's clothes? — to defend her honor. 
Until woman receives justice at the polls, she will 
receive it nowhere." Good Heavens! Why, one of the 
noble band of shriekers after Woman's Rights is a 
divorcee who owes what shred of reputation she's 
got to the chivalry of her first husband — (Tears 
paper angrily in pieces.) Ugh! 



54 THE DOMINANT SEX 

Mason. That is from a speech of a prominent 
woman at a big banquet last night. 

Mrs. Mortimer. The idiot! 

Mason. (Picks up a part of the paper, shows her 
the name.) You see! 

Mrs. Mortimer. (Reads.) Your wife! 

Mason. I think that last sentence that you hold 
in such horror is in her eyes quite a gem. 

Mrs. Mortimer. Your wife! Then I need you 
more than ever. She's a power. She has a tre- 
mendous backing. She'll be sure to follow this up. 
You'll tell her the truth, you'll persuade her to go 
no further? 

Mason. I'm not so sure I can do that. 

Mrs. Mortimer. You won't desert me? John, 
you're all J have left in the world. 

Mason. Why, of course. I'll do my best, only I 
may not be able to come out into the open. Are 
you sure there's no proof? 

Mrs. Mortimer. (Sadly.) No she's been clever — 
(Looks up at him.) But you believe me, John? You 
know my boy told the truth. You'll help me prove 
she's an unscrupulous adventuress? John, when you 
went off to Europe and I had to take up the threads of 
life alone, hating existence, praying for death, soon 
I found I was no longer alone, and then I prayed 
for life and strength and I wasn't sorry for any- 



THE DOMINANT SEX 55 

thing — for I knew if I hadn't gone through what I 
did I would never have been a mother. 

Mason. Hush! 

Mrs. Mortimer. Yes I mean just what I say. 
My boy was the son of my husband, yet but for 
you, he would never have been born. I wonder 
how many women bear their husbands children 
who belong by every spiritual and mental tie to 
another? What was I before I knew you? A wife, 
but an unawakened child. John, you are as respon- 
sible for John's existence as if you were his father. 
Give me back the good name of my boy — our boy! 

(Mason looks at her gravely for a moment 
in silence, goes to telephone book; 
glances at it; takes up the desk tele- 
phone, asks for a number.) 

Hullo, is this the office of the District Attorney? 



(Obtain falls as he continues speaking.) 



ACT III 

A fortnight later. 

The Library in the Mason home, every 
detail superb. The room is apparently 
unoccupied, although seated in a deep 
easy-chair EWING reads unobserved. 
Enter the BUTLER carrying a tray 
filled with a huge pile of envelopes. 
Following him comes MRS. DEMING 
who appears tired and listless. 

Mrs. Deming. That's it, Perkins, put it down here 
on the desk. (Perkins, about to go, turns as she 
addresses him.) How is your little boy? 

Perkins. Thank you, Mrs. Deming, doing- nicely. 

Mrs. Deming. (With trembling voice.) Quite 
out of danger? 

Perkins. The Doctors think so, ma'am. Thank 
you for asking. 

Mrs. Deming. Do you get off to see him? 

Perkins. I spend the nights there, ma'am, — but 
(Looking about.) don't say anything — you see Mrs. 
Mason is so nervous, if she knew there was scarlet 
fever at home, ma'am, and me going back and forth! 

57 



58 THE DOMINANT SEX 

Mrs. Deming. (Rising.) Oh, there's danger to 
Bobby! 

Perkins. (Earnestly.) No, no, Mrs. Deming — I'm 
most careful. I don't go into the room — once I just 
peeped through the door — but I never go in — and 
I change every scrap of clothes. No, ma'am, please 
don't say anything — but it's hard like not being able 
to be with the kid. 

Mrs. Deming. (Seating herself, speaking sadly.) 

But his mother is with him — his mother isn't 
separated from him, as I am from my darling little 
boy. 

Perkins. No, ma'am. That's so ma'am. It's too 
bad you can't go to see your little boy. But don't 
take on so ma'am, he'll come around too, — I'm sure 
of it. Children, get these sicknesses, but they get 
over them, ma'am. 

Mrs. Deming. (Drying her eyes.) Thank you, 
Perkins, thank you so much — good night — 

Perkins. Good night, ma'am. (Exits.) 

(Mrs.Deming starts addressing the envelopes — 
drops her head in her arms and sobs.) 

Ewing. (Turns around in his chair, flings book 
on floor, starts up and approaches her.) Mrs. Dem- 
ing — I — oh please! 



THE DOMINANT SEX 59 

Mrs. Deming. (Startled.) Oh! how you frighten- 
ed me! Were you there all the time? I didn't see 
you. 

Ewing. (Gently.) Dear me! Dear me! Your 
little boy sick. And you do not go to him? 

Mrs. Deming. How can I? (Pointing to the en- 
velopes.) And so much work just now in connection 
with this Sybil Fane Association. 

Ewing. Yes, yes, of course, but surely Mrs. Mason 
will understand, will — 

Mrs. Deming. (Trying to control herself and 
speaking in business-like tones.) If I go of course 
I can not come back for a long time — because of 
Bobby, and you see I need the money, I cannot 
afford to lose my position. 

Ewing. Dear me! Dear me! But I cannot con- 
ceive of such a thing as a mother kept from 
her sick boy because — because — (Explosively.) 
Why nothing under Heaven should make it neces- 
sary for a mother to leave the bed side of her son. 
He needs his mother. He must have his mother. 

Mrs. Deming. (Smiling quietly.) And he must 
kave his food, he needs his food. And he must 
have clothes. Ah! he grows so quickly he needs 
his clothes. Better no mother, than no food and 
clothes. 

Ewing. (Jumps up and paces the room.) A 

mother separated from her only child because she 



60 THE DOMINANT SEX 

is the bread-winner. It is preposterous. There is 
something wrong somewhere. (Stops before her.) 

Have you got a nurse? 

Mrs. Deming. Her wages would exactly equal 
mine. 

Ewing. I shall get one at once. Where is he? 
I shall go down and see that he wants for nothing — 
nothing. We'll get the best doctors from town — 
we'll — 

Mrs. Deming. (Touched.) You are too good. 

Ewing. If you only knew how I thank God for 
the opportunity. 

Mrs. Deming. Really, Mr. Ewing. 

Ewing. (Nervously.) Would you mind taking 
down a bit of dictation? 

Mrs. Deming. (Surprised and looking at her 
neglected work in some hesitancy.) Why — I — 

Ewing. Just a bit. 

Mrs. Deming. (Draws out typewriter, prepares 
it, gets ready.) Very well. 

Ewing. (Paces up and down.) Begin: "I have 
loved you from the moment you came here as Mrs. 
Mason's secretary." 

(Mrs. Deming embarrassed — stops.) 

(Ewing assuming business tone.) Pray go on. "I 
have never dared speak as I know I am too old for 
such a beautiful woman as you." 



THE DOMINANT SEX 61 

(Mrs. Deming stops again.) 

(Same business tones.) Do I go too quickly? 

Will you please continue? 

(Mrs Deming smiles and continues.) 

"No man is fit to offer himself to a woman, but I 
will do my utmost to make you happy. We shall 
send for your boy and you will never again be 
separated. Try to forget that I am old and nothing 
like the husband you deserve, and remember only 
that the devotion of the rest of my life will be 
yours." 

(Mrs. Deming stops, shoves her chair 
away from the desk and wipes her eyes.) 

(Ewing goes to her, takes her hand, she 
acquiesces, looks up into his face and 
smiles. The door opens and Mason 
enters — they separate quickly.) 

Mason. (Nervously to Mrs. Deming as Ewing 
leaves the room.) I am expecting an important 
'phone message, Mrs. Deming. I think I shall wait 
here for it. 

Mrs. Deming. Very well, Mr. Mason. Do I 
disturb you? 

Mason. (Seats himself and reads paper.) Not 
at all, go right on. What are you doing? 



62 THE DOMINANT SEX 

Mrs. Deming. (Removes dictation from machine, 
kisses it, places it in • her bosom and begins to 
address envelopes.) Appeals for Funds to every 
Woman's Club in the country. 

Mason. For funds? 

Mrs. Deming. To join the Sybil Fane Associa- 
tion. 

Mason. (Annoyed.) H'm! (After a pause during 
which he reads.) All over the country, eh? 

Mrs. Deming. Yes, it is quite remarkable how the 
idea has taken hold. 

Mason. H'm! Fane and Freedom — that sort of 
thing eh? 

Mrs. Deming. (Smiling.) It certainly is right 
in the popular vein. 

(Telephone rings, Mrs. Deming takes off 
receiver.) 

Hullo! Yes? 

Mason. For me? 

Mrs. Deming. (Speaking into telephone.) To 
interview Mrs. Mason. I understand. Yes, let her 
come right away. (Hangs up receiver.) 

Mason. (Looks annoyed.) More newspapers? 

Mrs. Deming. (Suavely.) The Evening Whirl. 

Mason. (Grunts in disgust.) So you think the 
movement a great success, eh? 



THE DOMINANT SEX 63 

Mrs. Deming. It is wonderful — wonderful. Your 
wife is a genius. 

Mason. H'm ! 

(Buries himself in his paper.) 

(Telephone rings. Mrs. Deming answers 
it. Mason looks up.) 

Mrs. Deming. Hullo! No! 

(Mason starts to go to it.) 

It's her secretary. 

(Mason sinks back disgusted.) 

For Sunday's Supplement? How would you like it? 
Profile or three-quarter? 

(Mason swears under breath.) 

There's a new one with a large picture hat. 

(Mason throws down paper, walks im- 
patiently to window, looks out.) 

No, I'm not laughing at you — go on.... Very well, 
then I'll send the one with the long coat. 

Mason. (Returns.) Oh, Mrs. Deming — 
(Telephone rings.) 
Allow me! 

(Takes up receiver.) 

Hullol What? Yes Mr, Mason's house. Yes— well? 
(Smiles over at Mrs. Deming.) 



64 THE DOMINANT SEX 

Yes, yes, what's that? Say that again, please, 
Madame Poillon — oh, corsets! 

(Drops receiver with disgusted expres- 
sion, deep into his paper again.) 

Mrs. Deming . (At the telephone.) Oh, very well, 
thank you — not later than Thursday. 

(To Mason demurely.) 

Wasn't what you were expecting, was it? 

Mason. (Makes a grimace.) Well, I'll wait for 
it — that is — (Elaborately sarcastic.) if I am not 
in the way. 

Mrs. Deming. Oh, not at all, if you wouldn't 
mind getting off that proof. 

(Mason rises, seats himself in another 
chair, in a huff.) 

(Butler enters with telegram. Mason 
takes it from him, mechanically begins 
to open it. Mrs. Deming glances at it.) 

Mrs. Deming. M-r-s. — Mrs. 

Mason. I beg your pardon. (Hands it to her.) 

Mrs. Deming. (After reading it.) The Woman's 
Club of Seattle joins — that's the fifteenth Club. 

Mason. (Reading from paper.) Ha! "Mother 
cheats her son out of $2,000." 

(Mrs. Deming looks at him and smiles, 
goes on with her work.) 



THE DOMINANT SEX 65 

(Telephone rings.) 

Mrs. Deming. (Sweetly.) Would you like to 
answer it? 

Mason. (Short.) No! 

Mrs. Deming. (Smiles — takes up the receiver.) 
Hullo! Yes — a symposium on the new Solidarity 
of the Sex. A thousand words. Yes, go to press 
Monday. I'll see it is done. 

Mason. (Reading from paper.) Ah, ha — I see the 
Beethoven Club is split in two by a charming row. 
"Former woman President sues present woman 
President for defamation of character." 

Mrs. Deming. (Smiles, stops work and takes up 
another paper, reads from it.) "Arrested for desert- 
ing wife and children." 

Mason. (Reading.) "Shop-lifting on the increase." 
"Woman Highwayman robs well known stock 
broker." 

Mrs. Deming. (As before.) "Wife-beater — drunk- 
enness — " 

Mason. (As before.) "A woman owns the largest 
saloon in Oshkosh." Ha! Ha! 

Mrs. Deming. (As before.) This is interesting! 
a Young bank clerk caught." 

Mason. I was just going to read that. I see the 
poor fellow had been living beyond his means — 
usual story — extravagant woman. 



66 THE DOMINANT SEX 

Mrs. Mason. (Entering hurriedly, turns to a maid 
who follows her, not the maid who dressed her.) 

I tell you I cannot see you now. (Seeing her hus- 
band.) Why John! Home so early! 

Mason. (Casting a laughing glance over at Mrs. 
Deming.) Expected an important message. Yes. 

Mrs. Mason. We'll serve tea, shortly. 

Mason. I'll come back for it. Mrs. Deming, if it 
should come, have them switch over to my den. 

Mrs. Deming. Very well. 

(Mason exits.) 

Mrs. Mason. Mrs. Deming will you have ten 
copies of this struck off? 

(Mrs. Deming rises and takes a ms. from 
her.)' 

(To the maid.) 

I told you I could not see you now. 

Maid. (Meekly.) I can wait, mum. 

(Mrs. Mason shrugs her shoulders im- 
patiently.) 

Mrs. Mason. (To Mrs. Deming.) Can you make it 
out? Dashed it off, but I guess it will do. 

Mrs. Deming. (Looking it over.) What's that? 
(Points to a word.) 



THE DOMINANT SEX 67 

Mrs. Mason. (Looks over her shoulders.) That? 
That's "justice" — "fundamental justice." Can you 
read the next page? It's rather scratched. 

Mrs. Deming. (Doubtfully.) Let me see — "If a 
woman works as — as — " 

Mrs. Mason. "Hard." 

Mrs. Deming.. "Hard as a man — " 

Mrs. Mason. "Why should she not receive the 
same wages?" 

Mrs. Deming. "With her greater conscientious- 
ness in small things" — What is this word? 

Mrs. Mason. "Reliability" — r-e-1 — you see? 

Mrs. Deming. I guess I have it — this is "the 
injustice of paying more to a man because he is a 
mas." 

Mrs. Mason. (Notices maid.) I told you not to 
wait, Mary. 

Mary. Yes, mum, but you've put me off so often 
and spring's coming. 

Mrs. Mason. Spring? What's it all about? 

Mary. (Defiantly.) I want $30 mum, — 

Mrs. Mason. Nonsense, $25 is plenty — wages are 
getting more and work less all the time, I don't 
know what we are coming to. 



68 THE DOMINANT SEX 

Mary. But Perkins, mum, gets more'n double 
my pay and he don't do half the work I do. 

Mrs. Mason. (Haughtily.) That is quite different. 
You don't know what you are talking about. I 
can get all the chambermaids I want for $25 and I 
will not pay more than the market rates. 

Mary. And here's me listening to you this very 
minute saying as how if a woman works as hard as 
a man, she ought — 

Mrs. Mason. That is quite different — men ser- 
vants always get more than women servants. 

Mary. (Getting quite excited.) But I ask you is 

it right? Is it fair? I'm up long before Perkins 
gets down and I ain't through my work till long 
after he's done. I can do just the same things as 
him, only maybe I'm not the fashion. Because he's 
a man, he gets double wages. I don't see what 
right you have going around and telling the women 
folks they ought to be paid same as men, and then — 

Mrs. Mason. (Severely.) That will do, Mary, you 

may go — 

Mary. Oh, mum! 

Mrs. Mason. When your month is up. 

Mary. And me sending every dollar to my poor 
old mither in the old country! 

(Exits in tears.) 



THE DOMINANT SEX 69 

Mrs. Mason. What a bore! (To Mrs. Deming.) 

Just 'phone Mrs. Peterson and say I positively 
insist on seeing- the last employer — it's a perfect 
outrage, you can't trust a written reference now-a 
days — you remember that fourteen year refer- 
ence Mrs. Vanderhof gave the cook, — "perfectly 
sober," and the second day she was under the kitchen 
table dead drunk. 

Mrs. Deming. Was that Mrs. Vanderhof, Pres- 
ident of the Boy's League? 

Mrs. Mason. Yes, I must say she does splendid 
work in that. 

Mrs. Deming. (Smiles.) The motto of which is 
"Truth before all things." 

Butler. (Entering.) Miss Lillian Ray, of the 
Evening Whirl. 

(Enter Miss Ray — a maiden lady of about 
forty, very thin, hopelessly plain and 
awkward. Her face bears a set expres- 
sion, her mouth is large and filled with 
irregular, projecting teeth. She wears 
glasses.) 

Mrs. Mason. (Cordially.) How do you do, Miss 
Ray. So glad to see you. Will you wait just a 
moment? Sit down. 

(To Mrs. Deming.) 

I see you have the proof. Did you correct it? 



70 THE DOMINANT SEX 

Mrs. Deming. Yes. 

Mrs. Mason. You saw, then, where I had added 
about the immorality of manufacturers refusing to 
consider the needs of their employees and hiding 
behind the market rate? 

Mrs. Deming. Yes, I have fixed it. 
(Remains quietly working.) 

Mrs. Mason. Now, Miss Ray, I am all attention. 
What can I do for you? 

Miss Ray. I came to interview you on the pro- 
gress of this new movement of yours. 

Mrs. Mason. Yes, the Association to free Sybil 
Fane? 

Miss Ray. Do you realize, Mrs. Mason, how 
women from one end of the country to the other, 
are giorying in your courage! 

Mrs. Mason. (Smiling.) Oh, I don't know that it 
took any special courage. 

Miss Ray. Indeed it did, Mrs. Mason, ten years 
ago a woman in your position would not have 
dared stand up for a woman accused of murder. 

Mrs. Mason. You think then, it was the right 
thing to do? 

Miss Ray. The right thing? Why, there has 
been nothing like it. It has aroused all that is 
purest and finest in womanhood. It is a clarion 



THE DOMINANT SEX 71 

call to the men, to purify themselves, a notice served 
to the world that the new woman will no longer 
remain at the beck and call of man's pleasure. You 
know the Evening Whirl subscribed $10,000 to the 
cause? 

Mrs. Mason. Yes, it was perfectly splendid. 

Miss Ray. It was just the kind of thing the old 
man loves to do. He's different from most men, 
he likes to see women forge ahead in their upward 
march. He isn't the sort that likes to keep women 
chained in Harems, the slaves of men's passions. 

Mrs. Mason. Oh, come now — they are not all so 
bad- 
Miss Ray. Not so bad, eh? — I wouldn't trust 'em. 
I know 'em. Much they can fool me. I tell you 
that Sybil Fane did just right. I've been practising 
with a pistol ever since. I'd just like to see a man 
offer base proposals to me — 

(Mrs. Deming looks up amused.) 

I'd just like to see a man try to kiss me. 

(Mrs. Deming chokes, goes to window, 
pretending to have a coughing fit.) 

(To Mrs. Mason.) (Looks after her in astonish- 
ment.) Is she often taken that way? 



72 THE DOMINANT SEX 

Mrs. Mason. (Murmurs something about a deli- 
cate throat, is amused at Miss Ray, but polite.) 
Pray go on! 

Miss Ray. Well, my chief sent me particularly to 
find out what I could about this new opposition 
movement. 

Mrs. Mason. (Astonished.) Opposition? 

Miss Ray. You didn't know? 

Mrs. Mason. Why no! What do you mean? 
Popular sentiment is entirely with us. Even the 
judge reprimanded the District Attorney for his 
language towards her — the papers too are with us. 

Miss Ray. (Impressively.) Not all. 

Mrs. Mason. What? 

Miss Ray. No, there's a distinct opposition being 
skillfully aroused. Little innuendos about Sybil 
Fane's past — stories about young Mortimer's being 
such a fine fellow. Reminiscences of college chums 
— praise from his professors — 

Mrs. Mason. (Thoughtfully.) H'm! 

Miss Ray. I'm surprised you didn't see it. 

Mrs. Mason. We've been so busy organizing — 

Miss Ray. There's some powerful backing some- 
where. Clifford Beale of Beale & Strong's been en- 



THE DOMINANT SEX 73 

gaged as special counsel to assist the District Attor- 
ney. 

Mrs. Mason. You don't say! Well, this is inter 
esting! 

(Mrs. Sampson-Black enters breathless.) 
(She is over-dressed — in fineries that are 
most unbecoming — her serious, fat face 
looks utterly comical in frivolous fash- 
ions.) 

Mrs. Sampson-Black. Didn't wait to be announced 
— just a moment! Have you heard? 

Mrs. Mason. (Grimly.) Just hearing. 

Mrs. Sampson-Black, Just come from the wed- 
ding— 

(With great satisfaction.) 

They put me in the front pew — walked up the 
aisle with young Hitchcock- Jones — Why weren't 
you there? 

Mrs. Mason. (Drily.) Too busy! 

Mrs. Sampson-Black. (Complacently.) Wouldn't 
have missed it for the world — the Bishop looked 
too sweet, — and those Brinsley girls — did you ever — 

(Would launch into a description of gowns 
but Mrs. Mason interrupts.) 

Mrs. Mason. You called, Mrs. Black? 

Mrs. Sampson-Black. (Coming to herself.) Yes — 



74 THE DOMINANT SEX 

(Holding out a clipping.) 

I brought you this, just read it! Did you ever? 
Mrs. Mason. (In surprise.) The Chronicle? 

Miss Ray. Yes, an editorial against us — red hot 
too. 

Mrs. Mason. (Reading.) "Nothing but an ordinary, 
low adventuress, unscrupulously taking advantage of 
the present hysteria to serve her own purpose." 

(Reads along from there.) 

H'm — "Time this blatant, better-than-thou atti- 
tude of the leaders of the woman's movement should 
receive a set back." "Like all privileged classes they 
seek to hide the true state of affairs by clamoring 
for Justice!" 

Miss Ray. They say the editorial policy of the 
Chronicle is dictated by one of the big Wall Street 
guns. 

Mrs. Mason. My husband will know. I'll ask 
him. (To Mrs. Sampson-Black.) Couldn't be that 
cat, Mrs. Parker-Gordon? 

Mrs. Sampson-Black. (Jumps, then reconsiders.) 
No! she'd never dare take a man's part against a 
woman. If it were found out! 

Mrs. Mason. That's so! 



THE DOMINANT SEX 75 

Miss Ray. It may be the work of that young 
Mortimer's mother, you know — she's working awful 
hard, she may have some pull — they say her husband 
was President of a bank or something out in Des 
Moines, Iowa. 

Mrs. Mason. Des Moines, you say? 
Miss Ray. Your husband came from Des Moines, 
didn't he, Mrs. Mason? 

Mrs. Mason. Left there as a young man over 
twenty years ago, but perhaps he may know who 
this Mrs. Mortimer is. 

Mrs. Sampson-Black. Of course, I can under- 
stand the poor mother trying her best, but that any- 
one else could want to punish this poor beautiful 
Sybil Fane— (Sentimentally.) on trial for her life — 
think of it! And not a helping hand stretched out 
to save her till this Association was conceived — s<? 
nobly — by our brave President — 

(Would ramble on indefinitively but Mrs. 
Mason cuts her off with crisp, decisive 
tone.) 

Mrs. Mason. We must find out what is behind 
this. Now, Miss Ray, I think I can do nothing until 
I see Mr. Mason. He will help me. My motor is at 
the door, let Mrs. Black drop you at the office — I am 
so much obliged, it was so good of you to come and 
tell us. 



76 THE DOMINANT SEX 

(Miss Ray and Mrs. Sampson-Black take 
their leave.) 

(Mrs. Mason looks undecided for a mo- 
ment, sees Mrs. Deming's head bent dis- 
couraged over her work.) 

Mrs. Mason. (One hand on Mrs. Deming's shoul- 
der.) So downcast? It isn't so bad as all that. 

Mrs. Deming. (Looking up and seizing Mrs. Ma- 
son's hand.) Are you sure you are right? 

Mrs. Mason. (Taken aback.) Why, what's the 
matter, what do you mean? 

Mrs. Deming. You won't mind if I speak out? 
You won't be annoyed? 

Mrs. Mason. Why, go on! 

Mrs. Deming. Are you sure this woman is what 
you think? 

Mrs. Mason. (Startled.) What do you mean? 
Why do you say that? 

Mrs. Deming. Did she really do it in self-defense? 
Is she a wronged, innocent woman? 

Mrs. Mason. (Anxiously.) Why shouldn't she 
be? We never used to give a woman the benefit of 
the doubt. We always looked upon an accused wo- 
man as a guilty woman. Now, thank God, we give 
her a chance. We are not so ready as we used to 
be, to forgive nothing in the woman, everything in 
the man. 



THE DOMINANT SEX 77 

Mrs. Deming. But hasn't the pendulum swung 
too far the other way? If in the past we were too 
ready to believe the worst of a woman, aren't we 
today too ready to believe the worst of a man? Do 
you ever ask yourself — suppose she really shot down 
young Mortimer in cold blood — that she is an un- 
scrupulous murderess — 

Mrs. Mason. But why? For what possible mo- 
tive? There was no robbery. 

Mrs. Deming. (Coming close to her.) I am going 
to tell you what I have never told a soul. 

Mrs. Mason. Why, what do you mean? 

Mrs. Deming. (Trying to compose herself.) You 

know my horrible story. 

Mrs. Mason. (Coldly.) That your husband shot 
himself just before you divorced him — the best thing 
he could have done. 

Mrs. Deming. No, no, you don't say that from 
your warm heart — you say that as the clubwoman 
mechanically repeating what you've heard. I was 
that once — I used to sit at their feet and listen to 
their harangues about not being slaves to men and 
all that, and — oh, well, what's the use of going into 
it! I was the typical club woman, thoroughly ino- 
culated with the virus of Individualism and Ego- 
tism — and I tell you a little forgiveness, a little old- 



78 THE DOMINANT SEX 

fashioned womanly forgiveness and my husband 
would be alive today, my boy would not have been 
fatherless and practically motherless. 

(Sits down, buries face in hands.) 

Mrs. Mason. My dear woman, what is the good 
of going into all that? Of course, a woman suffers 
in being firm, but anything is better than the old 
way of suffering in silence — forgive the man any- 
thing because he's man — we all know what that led 
to! 

Mrs. Deming. Oh, but you don't know — I never 
told how wrong I was — 

Mrs. Mason. (In astonishment.) You? 

(Mrs. Deming nods her head.) 

You! Why he never denied it. 

Mrs. Deming. (Sadly.) No! He told me every- 
thing. 

Mrs. Mason. Well? 

Mrs. Deming. He counted on my forgiveness, on 

my love being strong enough to overlook one mis- 
step. 

(Mrs. Mason makes an impatient move- 
ment.) 

Yes, he was telling the truth. Oh, how can I ever 
tell you? — He pleaded with me, he loved his boy, 
he couldn't bear to be separated from him, yon 



THE DOMINANT SEX 79 

meedn't shake your head — he loved his boy I tell 
you — his baby boy! Sometimes I think you club- 
women are unwilling to admit there is such a thing 
as father-love. It's always mother-love with you, 
as if fathers don't make sacrifices for their children. 
You paint the picture always with the poor tired-out 
mother wearily darning socks while the father bliss- 
fully consorts with his chums at the corner grocery, 
or the mother rocking the cradle while the father 
drinks at the bar. You never think of the father 
bent over his desk in a stuffy dark hole in some 
warehouse or office, while the mother gads about 
the stores and the theatres, dressed in fineries paid 
for by her underfed children — don't tell me! Why, 
I! — I! — with all my sins on my head am looked on 
as an injured saint and my husband a violent brute. 

Mrs. Mason. Well, why not? 

Mrs. Deming. (Excited.) Why not? Why, he re- 
sisted that woman for months before he succumbed. 
Yes, that's right! Laugh! Laugh! — as I did. I called 
him a cad — I taunted him with being a cad besides 
a villain. I prated of Honor and Virtue and Faith- 
fulness. Oh, yes! I was to perfection the noble, 
indignant, better-than-thou woman. I refused to 
believe that a woman ever makes love to a man, 
ever is the tempter. I said something about Adam 
as usual, hiding behind Eve. And it was all true, 
true, every word he spoke — true! 

(Mrs. Mason makes a gesture of horror.) 



80 THE DOMINANT SEX 

Mrs. Deming. (Trying to control herself.) After 

he shot himslf, I came across some letters, she was 
wild about him, crazy! God! it seemed as if the 
paper would shrivel up with the mad, hot passion as 
I read. Her husband was one of these little dried up, 
bloodless creatures, — my husband was a big strap- 
ping fellow over six feet — well, I was away — sonny 
had run slight temperatures and I took him to the 
mountains. I left my husband in town — in that 
Godless way only we American wives have — he tele- 
graphed for me once, and I thought sonny needed 
me more. Now do you understand? 

(Mrs. Mason makes a sound of distress 
and sympathy.) 

And now I can't get this poor murdered boy out 
of my head. Suppose this Sybil Fane should be 
another like that devil who ruined my husband? 
I begin to think there are more of them in the world 
than you and I dream of. What right have you to 
believe her story more than the poor mother's? He 
may have resisted her, he may have wanted to have 
nothing to do with her, and she may have shot him 
from pure jealousy. 

(Mrs. Mason looks startled.) 

Don't you know, or won't you know there are 
good men in the world, and there are bad women? 

Mrs. Mason. (Soothingly.) Your own sad ex- 
perience has warped your judgment. Your story 
is exceptional. Yes, it is, don't shake your head. 



THE DOMINANT SEX 81 

You know how we women used to throw stones, how 
we used to gather our skirts together and pass suck 
a woman by. Today there is a worldwide signifi- 
cance in the fact that we stretch out a helping hand. 
It is more likely that this Mortimer was one of those 
degenerate sons of a millionaire, and his family are 
fighting exposure. This poor girl may stand more 
than ever in need of me. I shall discover what is 
behind this counter movement — it may be that the 
men are banding together because we women do. 
I cannot tell, but the very opposition convinces 
me more than ever that I am right. 

(Enter Butler with tea.) 

(Mrs. Deming leaves — trying to hide her 
emotion.) 

Mrs. Mason. Tell Mr. Mason tea is served. He 
is in the den. 

Butler. Very good, ma'am. 

(Arranges tea table — exit.) 
Mason. (Entering.) What! Alone! 

(Pretends to look about room.) 
No one interviewing you? 

(Mrs. Mason laughs and shakes her head.) 

No hidden reporters, or secretaries? 

(Pretends to look behind sofa and under 
desk.) 



S2 THE DOMINANT SEX 

Then you're expecting a committee? 

Mrs. Mason. No, not one! 

(Mrs. Mason makes tea as she talks — 
husband seated opposite her.) 

Mason. (Glancing at her as she is about to make 

tke tea.) I don't suppose I dare! 

Mrs. Mason. Dare what? 

Mason. Ask a woman to take off her hat — a 
becoming hat? 

(Mrs. Mason smiles, rises, begins to take 
out her hatpins before mirror.) 

L,ooks more as if you might remain a while. Have 
you any license for that? 

Mrs. Mason. Incense? 

(Holding up a long pin as she speaks.) 

Mason. We men need special licenses to carry 
weapons. 

Mrs. Mason. (Smiles, seats herself opposite him 
and makes and serves tea during the conversation.) 

This is really so nice you got off early — some Di- 
rector must have died or something — how did you 
ever do it? 

Mason. (Munching toast and smiling.) I told 
you I had something of importance on, I preferred 
to put through here. 



THE DOMINANT SEX 83 

Mrs. Mason. Um — mysterious! Awful good look- 
ing suit of clothes! That new London tailor you're 
trying? 

Mason. Now, if you weren't the new woman, I'd 
say you wanted something. 

Mrs. Mason. I do! 

Mason. Ha! The more I see of new women the 
more I see they are not so very new! Overdrawn 
account? 

Mrs. Mason. No, though I may need some more. 

Mason. Home for babies needs a new ward? 

Mrs. Mason. No! 

Mason. The Magdalen Home — 

Mrs. Mason. Never more flourishing. 

Mason. Then I give it up! 

Mrs. Mason. I want your help. 

Mason. That's interesting — you don't honor me 
often that way I must admit. 

Mrs. Mason. Who is Clifford Beale? 

Mason. (Just about to take his tea, lays down 
his cup, startled.) Why — what? 

Mrs. Mason. Who is Clifford Beale? 

Mason. Who is he? Why, a lawyer, — (Recover- 
ing himself.) very nice chap, member of the Century 



84 THE DOMINANT SEX 

Club and the University — you've met him, haven't 
you? 

Mrs. Mason. No, but I mean, would you consider' 
him a very great lawyer? 

Mason. (Annoyed, but tries to carry it off light- 
ly.) Leader of the bar. Tells awful good stories — 
he told me one yesterday at lunch — sat down to- 
gether — 

Mrs. Mason. (Determined not to be put off.) 

Whom would you consider next to him? 

Mason. No one. 

Mrs. Mason. Well, if he was against you — 

Mason. I'd see that he wasn't. 

Mrs. Mason. But if he was, what would you do? 

Mason. Give up. 

Mrs. Mason. Nonsense! Tell me who you think 
could put up the best fight against him? 

Mason. What's it all about? 

Mrs. Mason. I've just heard that he's been en- 
gaged as special counsel to the District Attorney 
in the Sybil Fane trial. 

Mason. Oh, get out of that, it's nonsense giving 
your time to that. 

Mrs. Mason. (With dignity.) That's the second 
time you've asked me. You know it's impossible. 



THE DOMINANT SEX 85 

Mason. Why impossible? (Sardonically.) Say 
your children need you just now — and you can't give 
the time to it. 

Mrs. Mason. I look upon this as one of the most 
important things I have ever undertaken — and it is 
sure to land me as President of the National Feder- 
ated Clubs — you know what that means. 

Mason. (Rising impatiently.) Oh, be President 
of anything that amuses you — but please draw the 
line at championing murderesses. 

Mrs Mason. There you go, assuming her guilt — 
but if she is innocent, think how splendid to have 
saved her. 

Mason. Fiddlesticks! What business has a decent 
woman in a man's room that time of night? 

Mrs. Mason. A ruse — a sick friend, as she said, 
easy enough for a scoundrel of a man to lure a 
woman who is actuated by the highest motives. 

Mason. She'll make you believe anything. Well, 
thank goodness she won't find Clifford Beale so easy! 

Mrs. Mason. (Wonderingly.) "Thank goodness!" 
Why you seem to care personally, you — 

Mason. (Quickly.) I hate to see my wife dragged 
into this dirty mess. 

Mrs. Mason. (Smiling, trying to take it lightly.) 

Oh, you know I am going to win. Confess you 



86 THE DOMINANT SEX 

think things are going my way. At least you must 
admit the trial is so far. 

Mason. The trial by newspaper is certainly going 
your way. 

Mrs. Mason. That is something. 

Mason. Not at all — that is to be expected. 

Mrs. Mason. Expected? 

Mason. Certainly. The papers are edited for 

the women. 

Mrs. Mason. That is interesting. I never heard 
that. How do you make it out? 

Mason. It began with a woman's column, then 
came a woman's page, then it spread itself over the 
whole paper — now even the editorials are written 
with an eye to the women. 

Mrs. Mason. You astonish me. Don't men read 
the papers? 

Mason. Oh! The financial reports, sporting news, 
legal notices, some politics — the rest — the murders, 
the divorce trials — the description of gowns at the 
opera, of society abroad — it's all done for the women. 

Mrs. Mason. And the advertisements? 

Mason. Precisely What would there be to adver- 
tise if you take away the shops? You know man, 
mere man — isn't a shopping animal. A sad day for 
the papers when they are reduced to advertising 



THE DOMINANT SEX 87 

weeklies and golfsticks. Look here — you women are 
always saying you are needed to purify politics — 
have you purified anything you've got into? Look at 
the personalities, the sensationalism, you complain 
of in the papers. Who is it done for? The women. 
Who read it? The women. You complain of the 
vulgarity of the stage; — who buy the tickets and 
choose the shows they take their husbands to? The 
women. Of course, it pays to give a big price to the 
divine Ella to write those touching editorials about 
Sybil the beautiful victim, or of the girl angel with 
the trailing wings. Humph! Do you think that 
sort of stuff goes down for an instant with us men? 
No! We men know life too well. We've met your 
Sybil Fanes in the raw- 
Mrs. Mason. It is true then! I have always heard 
that a woman may do anything with impunity until 
she touches the Social Evil, — the moment she tries 
to make the world a better place, it is "Hands Off!" 
She must not interfere with man's pleasure! 

Mason. (Disgusted.) You! You repeat that 
cant? Do you really believe decent men wouldn't 
be as glad as you to make things better? 

Mrs. Mason. We can't make them better because 
the legislators are all men. 

Mason. And do you pretend to believe for a 
moment that the kind of womanly woman who would 
be a legislator would be any better? 



88 THE DOMINANT SEX 

Mrs .Mason. A woman is always actuated by 
higher motives. 

Mason. Look here! The trouble with you women 
is that you divide the world into men and women 
instead of into decent and indecent. There are in this 
world, forces of good and forces of evil; among both 
of these we will find men and women. That is the 
danger of the whole so-called "Woman's Movement." 
You think all women inherently good — all men in- 
herently bad, and you're making about the worst 
mistake it is possible to make. You even go so far as 
to claim the vote of the prostitutes will make for 
good government. 

Mrs. Mason. (Eagerly.) There will be no white 
slaves when women vote — 

Mason. (Interrupting.) Why should a woman 
who has sold her body refuse to sell her vote? 

(Mrs. Mason starts — Butler enters with 
letter on tray which he hands to Mr. 
Mason.) 

Butler. From Beale & Strong, sir. Mr. Beale 
particularly wants to know if there is any answer, 
sir. 

(Mrs. Mason listens, surprised. Mason 
tears open letter eagerly, dropping en- 
velope on floor.) 

Mason. (Reading letter.) I'll see — 



THE DOMINANT SEX 89 

(Reads some more.) Where is the messenger? 
Butler. Downstairs, sir. 

(Mason quickly leaves followed by the 
Butler. Mrs. Mason stands still, thinking, 
crosses to envelope, picks it up, reads 
name — the following is said haltingly 
as she seats herself and ponders it over.) 

Mrs. Mason. How strange! John! Impossible! 
— working against me — in the dark— No! No! It 
can't be — merely a coincidence — (Springing up.) 
but his manner just now, — his evident excitement — 
what can it be? 

(Mason enters.) 

(Mrs. Mason looks at him, fixedly.) 

Mrs. Mason. (Under her breath.) You? 

(Mason nods.) 

But why? Why? I can't understand. 
Mason. I begged you to give it up. 

Mrs. Mason. But you gave me no hint that you 
would fight against me — why this secrecy? 

Mason. Having failed in inducing you to withdraw, 
I thought I owed it to you at least to keep in the 
background. 

Mrs. Mason. (Ironically.) That was very con- 
siderate. I shall be the laughing stock of — 



90 THE DOMINANT SEX 

Mason. No, you forget our compact. 

Mrs. Mason. Our compact? 

Mason. Yes — you forget I promised never t« 
differ in public. 

Mrs. Mason. (Breathing a sigh of relief.) N© 

one knows? 

Mason. Mr. Beale, and the District Attorney, one 
or two others. 

Mrs. Mason. (Relieved.) Ah! — but I can't under- 
stand — why should you be mixed in it? 

(Suddenly.) No, it can't be! 
Mason. What? 

Mrs. Mason. (In great excitement.) You don't 
know this womdn? She isn't — she wasn't — 

Mason. (Amused.) Pray go on. Considering 
that you regard her as an innocent, wronged woman, 
I don't see why my knowing her should upset you 
so. Where is all the beautiful womanly faith? 

Mrs. Mason. It is all so sudden — I — 

(Goes to him and puts her hands on his 
shoulders.) 

Tell me, John, please tell me. If there's a good 
reason, maybe I'll see you are right after all. 



THE DOMINANT SEX 91 

Mason. (Smiling down at her, kisses her hand.) 
Well, it isn't what you think. You need'nt worry. I 
never laid eyes on the woman in my life. 

Mrs. Mason. (Puzzled.) Well, something mighty 
important made you do it. You have never before 
interfered with a thing I did. 

Mason. (Takes her on his knee and begins half 
playfully, then becomes serious.) Well, suppose we 
put it down to my sense of justice— to a man's love of 
fair play, if you will, my dear. You women don't 
understand; you think a man doesn't mind what's 
said of him. But he does. This young fellow has 
his rights too, — all the more because his lips are 
closed in death. You women seem to think it is 
nothing that his name is defiled, his life disgraced. 
This Fane woman accused him of the vilest crime 
a man is capable of, to wrong a woman deliberately, 
against her will, to ruin a woman's life for a mo- 
ment's pleasure. No it isn't right, you women look 
on life — on men — from a wrong point of view — you 
begin with the false postulate that all men are 
naturally vicious and that no women are — besides 
even if that poor murdered boy doesn't interest you, 
doesn't win your pity, I should think at least you'd 
pity the mother. The poor mother, half crazed with 
grief — for her only child — why, she's a woman too! 

(He stares at her face and exclaims.) 



92 THE DOMINANT SEX 

What's the matter? 

(As she struggles to rise, he holds her.) 

No, I won't let you go till you tell me what's 
in your little head now? 

Mrs. Mason. (Panting.) Let me go! 

(She breaks away and confronts him. He 
also rises.) 

His mother! His Mother! Of course! I see it 
all now! 

Mason. Now, I demand to know what you mean! 

Mrs. Mason. Fool! Fool! I see it all — she said 
"Des Moines, Iowa" — Oh! You needn't stand there 
so dignified — don't you remember you told me all 
about it — when we were engaged — the only other 
woman you were in love with? 

Mason. Well ! 

Mrs. Mason. How you were tempted, she a 
married woman — that woman was Mrs. Mortimer. 
Why don't you deny it? 

Mason. I deny nothing. You are acting foolishly. 
I do know Mrs. Mortimer; we are old friends, though 
I haven't seen her for over twenty years. She asked 
me to help save the good name of her boy — for 
he was only a boy. I have known How wrong you 
are, and have hoped you would be convinced in 
time. Sybil Fane is playing a game for her life — 



THE DOMINANT SEX 93 

she is not innocent, but foully guilty — she shot 
young Mortimer because she was crazy about him 
and he refused to have anything to do with her. 

Mrs. Mason. Ha! How do you know that? 

Mason. He did not lie to his mother. 

Mrs. Mason. Ha! "his mother," — "his mother" — 
always his mother. She told you that — you've seem 
her, she came and asked you to help her. 

Mason. She did! 

Mrs. Mason. Strange kind of woman would 
ask a man to help her against his own wife. 

Mason. You forget you had nothing to lose, she 
had everything. 

Mrs. Mason. So, because she asks you, you throw 
yourself into it, heart and soul — you,already up to 
your ears in work, plunge into this, help the Dis- 
trict Attorney, engage special counsel, have edi- 
torials written, make up your mind to win — because 
she asks you — as if you aren't asked twenty times 
a day to do things you refuse! She must have been 
pretty sure of you. 

Mason No ! 

Mrs, Mason. (Beside herself.) Yes, I say! — sure 
you would take her part against your wife. She 
asked you! What do you care for my feelings, my 
pride? What do you care how I am trampled upon 



94 THE DOMINANT SEX 

— wounded. Oh! Oh! She must be pleased, she 
must be made happy at all costs. You place her 
above me — you love her! 

Mason. Stop! 

Mrs. Mason. You have always loved her — no 
doubt you married me only from pique — I have al- 
ways been second in your eyes — it's always that 
way — you are just like them all. 

Mason. Cora! Control yourself! You are talking 
wildly. You say yourself I told you everything— 
you know, then, she was innocent. 

Mrs. Mason. Bah! 

Mason. Beyond one wild kiss we never went. 

Mrs. Mason. I give that (Snapping her fingers.) 
for your trying \o shield her. The mere instinct of 
the male. I tell you she was your mistress. 

Mason. (Shocked.) Cora! 

Mrs. Mason. You are actuated by a spirit of 
fair play, aren't you — 

(Pauses, stares at him wildly.) 

My God! 

(Mason looks at her horrified, as if read- 
ing her thoughts.) 

(Hysterically.) You "seeking justice!" No, it is 
aot justice! 



THE DOMINANT SEX 95 

Mason. You are beside yourself! 

Mrs. Mason. You are not seeking justice, you 
.re seeking vengeance! 

Mason. Vengeance! 

Mrs. Mason. (Deliberately.) Vengeance for the 
murder of your son! 

(She falls sobbing on sofa — he makes an 
indignant exclamation. Paces room — 
looks at her — goes to her, but does not 
speak. Continues pacing up and down. 
Her sobs continue. At last he bends 
over her.) 

Mason. Come, Cora, this is preposterous. You 
are over-excited, and nervous under this strain. You 
don't know what you are saying. 

(Mrs. Mason waves him aside petulantly.) 

It is easy enough to prove that I could not have 
been that poor boy's father. I was in Europe a full 
eighteen months before he was born. But what right 
have I ever given you to think me an unspeakable 
cad? 

Mrs. Mason. (Looking up amazed.) Why, what- 
ever do you mean? 

Mason. How could that murdered boy be my 
son — unless I had betrayed my best friend, dishonor- 
ed his wife, and proven myself a scoundrel. 

(After a pause, seeing his wife abashed.) 



96 THE DOMINANT SEX 

We men are not saints, but I'd hate to be the 
kind of creatures you "good women" think us. 
You accuse me of having illicit relations with the 
wife of my best friend and yet you are totally uncon- 
scious of insulting me. 

Mrs. Mason. (Sitting up.) Forgive me! I was 
wrong. 

Mason. (Angrily.) You women always are wrong 
when you judge men — we are sorry enough devils 
in your eyes — and yet you tolerate us. You assail, 
you revile us — but you marry us! Do you think 
there would be so many rakes if they didn't always 
find you ready to give them your daughters! You 
say we men have low standards — on the contrary 
it is you women who hold us to none. You counte- 
nance low men, we refuse to countenance low wo- 
men. We hold'you to the highest ideal of chastity. 
And what do you women hold us to? Nothing! 
What do you demand of us? Worldly success — that 
is all — and you know it. If we attain that, you are 
willing to overlook everything else. 

Mrs. Mason. Oh, no! 

Mason. What! Do you dare deny that the aver- 
age "good mother" will snub the most moral youth 
in the world if he is poor, and encourage the disso- 
lute scamp if he is rich or titled? Yet we men hear 
om every side of our commercial standards, our 
materialism! I don't think it's the fathers who at- 



THE DOMINANT SEX 97 

tempt to gain social position by trafficking in their 
daughters. I tell you — you "good women" who are 
supposed to be our inspiration, fail miserably when 
it comes to inspiring us with high standards. It 
isn't easy — but it is possible for a man to hold the 
sex instinct as a sacred trust — for the future of the 
race — what help, what encouragement do you wo- 
men give us? I won't speak of the kind of appeal 
you make to us — let that go — the audacious free- 
dom in dress, the painting and the powdering, the 
appeal to the lowest in us, but, take the serious wo- 
men, the women to whom we have a right to look 
for inspiration — your leaders in the woman's move- 
ments — do we see you holding yourself as a sacred 
trust for the future of the race? Do we see you 
approach maternity with any sense of consecration? 
\fye hear a lot about the vote of the mother and 
what she will accomplish when her influence is felt 
— but how about the nervous babies brought into 
the world just because the women won't dedicate 
themselves to the great call of maternity — won't 
relinquish their silly little routine of pleasure? How 
many women do you know who really conserve their 
strength and vitality as they should, who regard 
their motherhood solemnly with high thoughts and 
uplifted joy! I'm not talking of the poor women ; 
mind you — to whom every child is a serious drain, 
but to the well-to-do women whose husbands want 
to be fathers — can we get you to nurse your own 
babies, or when we do, God knows you take enough 



98 THE DOMINANT SEX 

credit to yourself, as if you were doing something 
exceptional, something wonderful, instead of just 
following the dictates of Nature, but even when we 
do get you to nurse your babies, do you really give 
yourself up to it? — or do you fly about just the same 
as ever — holding your babe in your arms with hat 
on and motor at the door waiting to whirl you to 
the next engagement? 

(Waving memoranda before her.) 

I tell you we men are growing just a little tired 
of hearing of the nobility and saintliness of woman. 
I wish the poetic muse of Yellow Journalism and the 
Suffragettes who are so enraptured with their sex 
could only cast their eyes over these charming re- 
cords of their sainted sisters. I think your ideas of 
the woman always being "the pure white dove, 
seized in the maw pf the vulture man" would receive 
a considerable jolt. 

Mrs. Mason. What have you there? What is it? 

Mason. It is some data I have just received from 
the detectives. You know the defense! She hopes 
to save her life by pretending to have been a pure 
woman till he forced her. 

Mrs. Mason. Well, you heard Dr. Gregorius ex- 
plain the nature of the shock and the kind of demen- 
tia apt to follow. 

Mason. Clever idea that! To get a woman spe- 
cialist. We corralled all the nerve specialists we 



THE DOMINANT SEX 99 

could, but we never thought of those gynecologist 
fellows. 

(Mrs. Mason smiles.) 

However you must admit that all that scientific 
rigmarole about shock and dementia, and hysteria, 
etc., when she had lost her virtue, falls to pieces 
if we can prove she had no virtue to lose. 

Mrs. Mason. (Uneasily.) What do you mean? 

Mason. Simple enough! She claims to be a pure 
woman who shot down her betrayer. 

Mrs. Mason. (Nervous.) Ye-yes? 

Mason. If we can convince the jury that she 
had a career, a lurid one — before she ever met young 
Mortimer, I think it is obvious that she was not 
defending her honor. 

Mrs. Mason. Well? 

Mason. Well, in that case it's capital punishment 
for her, nothing less. 

Mrs. Mason. (Anxiously.) But that — 

(Touching the package of papers.) 

what is that? 

Mason. Here are the careers of the most notor- 
ious adventuresses of the country. We are ran- 
sacking the criminal records with a fine tooth 
comb. We are bound to identify her sooner or 
later. 



105 THE DOMINANT SEX 

(Mrs. Mason grows increasingly nervous 
as Mason continues.) 

And that's what I mean about the surprise in 
store for Equality Leagues — a nice little Sunday- 
School story — Equality? Well, I guess there's equal- 
ity all right. It is customary for all of you Club- 
women to look upon all fallen women as vic- 
tims of man's deviltry. But the beauty of the real 
thing like this is that it shows up the woman as 
she is nine times out of ten — deliberately choosing 
the way that will give her dress and luxury. It's 
greed — just plain greed — the greed you women love 
to cry out against in us men. Ha! I do love to 
hear the women hold forth on man's worship of 
money, man's materialism and the need of woman's 
uplift. Humph! Here's one beauty — 

(Pats one sheet.) 

Oh, a gem! Been supported by various sports, 
sucks 'em dry, turns 'em down — even steals from 
them but under such circumstances that the victint 
prefers not to squeal. Here's another — 

(Waves a paper.) 

A good deal like this Fane woman — her eye peeled, 
for the young boys — hangs about college towns — * 
but this— 

(Waves another.) 



THE DOMINANT SEX 101 

Here is the life history of the coolest proposition 
you've ever heard of — murder, trials for bigamy, 
cheating at cards, any old thing, clever, beautiful 
and could make anyone think her a regular "angel 
child." I tell you this Inez Temple takes the cake. 

Mrs. Mason. Inez Temple — no, no, no! Impos- 
sible! 

Mason. (Noticing her excitement.) What do you 
mean? What do you know — about Inez Temple? 

Mrs. Mason. Nothing, nothing — I thought you 
mentioned another name — I — 

Mason. (Curiously looking at paper.) In many 
ways this Inez Temple resembles Sybil Fane. If 
I could only identify them, the defense falls to 
pieces. She wouldn't have a leg to stand on. 

Mrs. Mason. But you can't — it's impossible — Inez 
Temple is dead. 

Mason. How do you know that? What on earth 
do you know about Inez Temple? What can my 
wife and Inez Temple have in common? 

Mrs. Mason. (Trying to appear unconcerned.) 

Why I remember reading something or other about 
Inez Temple drowning herself, flinging herself into 
a river — out west. 

Mason. (Studying a paper.) Yes — that is right. 
But this happened five years ago. How does it 



102 THE DOMINANT SEX 

come you remembered an event like that five years? 
The name and all — I don't understand. 

Mrs. Mason. (Very nervous.) I don't see any- 
thing very wonderful in my remembering what I 
read in the papers. 

Mason. A common criminal like this — yes. I 
think it very strange. And five years! 

Mrs. Mason. (Hesitating.) Inez Temple was one 
of the girls of the Magdalen Home when I was 
President. 

Mason. Oh! (After a pause — suddenly.) Then 
why didn't you say so at once! 

Mrs. Mason. (Laughing nervously.) You are the 
most amusing man — why make a mountain out of a 
molehill? Suppose I didn't think of it, what then? 

Mason. (Reflecting.) You are very nervous, my 
dear. There is something behind this. 

(Looking sharply at the paper, then as if 
to himself.) 

I wish I had a description of this Inez Temple. 

(To his wife.) 

Do you remember her, could you describe her? 

Mrs. Mason. (Eagerly.) Isn't there a description 
there? 

Mason. (Drily.) I said, "I wish I had it!" 



THE DOMINANT SEX 103 

Mrs. Mason. (Relieved.) Oh! Why she was 
very short, remarkably short — quite a dwarf, plump — 

(Seeing her husband's surprise, adds 
quickly.) 

but she was very fascinating — very. Light blonde 
hair and blue eyes. A little pug nose — 

Mason. (Sternly.) Cora, you are making this up. 
Why, the Lord only knows! 

Mrs. Mason. (Taken aback.) What do you mean? 

Mason. Inez Temple was strikingly tall, thin, dark. 

Mrs. Mason. You know? 

Mason. (Drily.) I fear I overlooked the descrip- 
tion after all. By Jove! 

(Looking at it.) 

Mrs. Mason. (Startled.) What is it? 

Mason. (Fiercely.) What are you keeping back 
from me? 

Mrs. Mason. What do you mean? 

Mason. What are you keeping back from me? 

Mrs. Mason. Nothing. 

Mason. Nothing? From the moment I mentioned 
the name of Inez Temple you show uneasiness — 
then you pretend you never heard the name. Then 
you are forced to admit you know the woman. You 
show you are familiar with her career — then you 



104 THE DOMINANT SEX 

pretend to describe her and give a description totally- 
false in every detail. Why? For what possible 
motive? There can be but one — this Sybil Fane, for 
all her pose of innocence, is none other but the no- 
torious criminal who on the point of being taken 
in by the police pretended to drown herself — Inez 
Temple and Sybil are one and the same! 

Mrs. Mason. (Startled, but trying to hide it.) 

Nonsense! 

Mason. (Sternly.) Do you think there are so 
many women going around the world with false 
left eyes? 

(Mrs. Mason overwhelmed.) 

(Scornfully.) And still you remain at the head of 
this movement to free her. You are still President 
of the Fane and freedom Association. 

Mrs. Mason. Why should I not be? 

Mason. What! You know that this murderess 
has been accused of murder before, has been an 
adventuress of the lowest type and yet you believe 
her story of being the wronged innocent victim? 

Mrs. Mason. How should I know she was Inez 
Temple? You know she has systematically refused 
to see me. 

Mason. And you had no reason for lying? Ly- 
ing when you said you didn't know the name, lying 



THE DOMINANT SEX 105 

again when you pretended to describe her to me? 
Besides you seem to forget that yesterday, as she 
lifted her veil to be sworn in court you fainted dead 

away. 

(Mrs. Mason nearly collapsed — has noth- 
ing to say.) 

Mason. At the time I thought it was from excite- 
ment and overwork. 

(Silence.) 

(Bitterly.) No, you like to be known from one end 
of the country to the other as the rescuer of fallen 
women, the protector of woman's honor. You want 
to become President of the Federation of Clubs — 
what do you care for the truth! 

Mrs. Mason. No, no — it was not that! When I 

began I thought she was really innocent. 

Mason. Well, but after, — after — when you discov- 
ered the truth. You had not the character to admit to 
the world the kind of woman you had made a 
heroine of. It would be too much a blow to your 
slogan, "man-the-vulture, woman the prey." Don't 
I know! If that is not the reason, why did you 
hide the truth after you had found it out? I can 
excuse all the rest of it — I can't blame you entirely 
I should have to indict an entire sex — but a lie I 
can never forgive. Why did you lie to me? 



106 THE DOMINANT SEX 

(Mrs. Mason attempts to answer, but he 
runs on.) 

No you still hoped to win, whether rightly or 
wrongly. You wanted success. What did you care 
if you let a murderess go free? What did you care 
for the poor mother's agony for her murdered boy? 
Your overweening ambition would not accept de- 
feat. 

Mrs. Mason. I must speak — I — 

Mason. (Scornfully.) No! I will not listen. You 
may fool the others, but you can no longer fool me. 
I shall say nothing. I shall not hold you up to the 
scorn that you deserve — for you are my wife — you 
need not worry. You may continue to pose as the 
leader of this wonderful woman's movement that 
is going to lift up us men and purify politics, but 
your husband looks upon you yourself as no whit 
better than the lowest, most unscrupulous politician 
who stops at nothing to gain his end. 

Mrs. Mason. No, no — I will not bear this. You 
must hear me, you shall hear me. 

(Mason starts to leave. Mrs. Mason stands 
against door. Mason lights a cigar 
pretends not to listen at first.) 

It is hard to tell you — I never thought I could 
bring myself to, but since you can think this of 
me— that I care only for success — that I am a low 
politician. I will tell you all — all — 



THE DOMINANT SEX 107 

(Mason smiles cynically.) 

(Mrs. Mason feels about for words — then 
bursts out.) 

I — your wife — was responsible for the career of 
Inez Temple. 

Mason. (Gazes at her amazed.) You! 

Mrs. Mason. I — I refused to give her her chance. 
I am as responsible for her career as that first man 
who wronged her. 

Mason. Impossible! 

Mrs. Mason. Sixteen years ago she entered the 
Magdalen Home a probationer. On one offence a 
girl is given a trial, on a second she must go. We 
feel that a first offence is often ignorance, a second 
means a pervert and we treat her so. 

Mason. Well. 

Mrs. Mason. The girl was peculiarly beautiful — 
and strange to say at that time peculiarly pure- 
minded. The first time had been a case of force — • 
just that. She became a mother, but she was an 
unawakened child. Then she fell in love. When she 
was found out, she pleaded that she did not know 
the wretch was married, and swore she would have 
nothing more to do with him, although she admitted 
she adored him. No longer was she unawakened. I 
refused to believe her. She kept crying out that 
she wasn't really bad — only unfortunate. But I was 



108 THE DOMINANT SEX 

obdurate. Oh! how that child begged and implored 
to be given one more chance. She wanted to be 
honest. She had a horror of becoming bad. How 
she cried! She followed me about the room on her 
knees! I shall never forget it. But I pulled my 
skirts about me, called her shameless, and let her 
go forth pretty as she was, to the inevitable end 

(A pause) 

Then John, I met you — and — and I understood. 
All the tragedy of us women's lot, our faith, our 
trust. Love opened my eyes, John, my love for you. 
— Love showed me how cruel I had been. Love — my 
love for you — taught me that a woman who loves is 
not bad. I knew John, in my innermost heart I 
knew, that had you been different I would have 
yielded. I adored you — you were my world, my 
God. Had you* been married a thousand times I 
would have gone with you to the end of the earth. 
Ah! you men understand only the desire to possess. 
You can't understand the longing to be possessed — 
to belong to another! I was yours, yours, body 
and soul — yours! Can you understand how I suffered 
when I realized that I had abandoned that girl for 
the very sin I would have committed gladly, exult- 
ingly had you asked it? What right had I to lord 
it over her, to hold up my head and accept honors 
while she — that girl I had pushed down into the 
depths — she remained an outcast, a nameless thing? 
Why she was even stronger than I, for she loved 



THE DOMINANT SEX 109 

and was willing to renounce — but I? I should not 
have given you up — 

(Mason is deeply stirred. He comes near 
her.) 

1 tried to make up for my mistake. I advertised; 
I did all I could. But it was too late. I had been 
given my chance and I wasn't big enough to seize 
it. When she began to be talked of, I followed her 
career feverishly, to the very end — or what I thought 
was the end. All the time — no matter what crime 
she committed — I said to myself "there might I 
have been, but for the fact that I happened to fall 
in love with an honorable, upright gentleman." 

Mason. My poor girl! 

Mrs. Mason. When I recognized her in the Court 
room that day, as soon as I had recovered from my 
swoon, I wanted to cry out that she was an impostor, 
that she was no innocent woman but a notorious 
criminal — but something kept me silent. A voice 
whispered to me here at last was my chance given 
to me again-here at last I could atone, that it had 
been miraculously given me to save her from a 
shameful end. 

Mason. (Going to her.) Forgive me! Cora! 

Mrs. Mason. One moment, let me say first all 
that is in my heart — you have convicted me of many 
short-comings. I admit them. Yet you might have 
told me, you might have stopped me. You smiled 



110 THE DOMINANT SEX 

and teased and seemed pleased enough at my suc- 
cess — but it was not fair to me, John. Now that I 
see how you felt, I say you should have asserted 
yourself. You were my husband and you had no right 
to put up with my behavior if you did not approve 
of it. You American men are too chivalrous, too 
tolerant. I see now that I was wrong — but you 
should have told me long ago. I think for a long 
time there has been growing slowly within me a 
feeling of dissatisfaction — that the important things 
of life were somehow slipping by — I listened to the 
ranting of restless women that it was finer to love 
all Humanity than just one's own — grander to go 
out and right the wrongs of strangers than to see 
there are no wrongs at home — broader to care for 
the waifs of the street than to devote myself to my 
own children. But you say you do not hold me 
entirely responsible, for you would have to indict 
a whole sex. But which sex? Are you so sure? 
Granted we women have followed false gods. But 
you were once our gods and you deserted us. In 
your place other images have been set up, but has 
it been entirely the fault of us women? If you men 
remained the master do you think we would be 
looking to women to fill our lives? Why a moment 
ago you were scolding me, ridiculing me, flaying me 
with your contempt, and yet I have never loved you 
more — you have never held me more. No, you 
should not have kept your peace. We women should 
be mastered, we want to be mastered — we adore our 



THE DOMINANT SEX 111 

masters. It's when you let the reins slip through 
your fingers, we seize them. Where we women 
used to look to you men for praise, for flattery, we 
now look to women, where we used to think life 
empty without some man looming large, we now 
fill it with great gatherings of women, with the game 
of politics, with club life and public movements. 
We women have tasted a new flavor — that of moving 
others, not as of old by physical charm alone, by 
dress or other allurement, but by power, by magnet- 
ism, the thrill of the intellect. It is dangerous, for 
it is very new and very wonderful, this moving great 
numbers, of swaying crowds. It may be that never 
again will women go to men for their biggest emo- 
tions. 

Mason. (Gravely.) Yes you are right. Perhaps 
after all it is called The Woman's Age because we 
men have let go — we no longer fill the scene. We 
have thrown ourselves heart and soul into the great 
struggle for Commercial Supremacy. We have 
ceased to dominate women because we are absorbed 
in dominating other men. I fear we are trying to 
govern the present by the spectre of the past. That 
is impossible. In every country where the old 
regime is dying out and commercialism reigns 
supreme, there we find this restlessness of the 
women. It is all wrong, it is against nature, but 
there is only one way to stop it, we men have got 



112 THE DOMINANT SEX 

to stop putting all our strength, all our energy, all 
our masterfulness into conquering our fellow men — 
we have got to re-conquer the women. 

Mason. (Puts his arms about her.) I guess, Cora, 
there always will be a dominant sex. After all it 
is for us men to say which one. 

(They kiss passionately.) 



SWIFT CURTAIN 



MAR 23 1911 



One copy del. to Cat. Div. 



m\ 28 1911 







k£. RARY 0F CONGRESS 



015 929 534 5 



